The Mocha stone is said to have obtained its name from the Arabian city of Mocha whence it was exported. It has been written in various ways: mocus, mocoe, mocoa, mochoe, mochoa, mocha, mocho. It is called Piedra de Moca in Spain, Pierre de Mocka in France, and Mokkastein in Germany. The Mocha stone is called Dendritic because of the plant and moss-like infiltrations exhibited. These are like frost crystals often formed by the magic hand of Nature, and often also by plants held in hollows wherein the siliceous mineral was composed. The Mocha Stone besides being called Moss Agate is also called Tree Agate in common with silicified trees in which the original structural details are accurately preserved. Remarkable pictures formed by Nature in the Agate have already been noticed. Pliny hints at the employment of artifice in the production of many of these stones, and the secret was long a cherished knowledge of the Italian workers in gems. Early in the 19th century, however, some German scientists obtained possession of the secret and within the past few years artificial productions from Oberstein have reached the gem markets. The Mocha stone was accounted a most fortunate stone. It is associated with the influences of the planet Venus and was always noted as a sign of fertility. For this reason farmers tied specimens to their fruit trees, to the harness of their horses and to the horns of their cattle. In the early 19th century it was highly esteemed in Europe, and in England especially it was used for luck rings, oftentimes surrounded with rubies (stones of the sun). It was also used for mourning jewellery as an emblem of the resurrection and of the eternal life which alone is permanently manifest throughout Nature. Orpheus advises that to secure the smiles of the gods a piece of the stone should be worn, also that the ploughman carrying it would receive heavenly bounty. It was greatly esteemed by physicians and apothecaries as a base on which to prepare their medicines. As a symbol it stood for good health and long life and to dream of it, increase of possessions. It is under the celestial Taurus. MOTHER OF EMERALD. See PLASMA. MOTHER OF PEARL. See NACRE. [Illustration: Antique Moss Agate Patch Box Mrs. W. R. Furlong’s Collection ] [Illustration: Moss Agate Basket William Howat Collection ] NACRE “_’Tis a valley paved with golden sands, With pearls and nacre shells._” SYLVESTER (1605) Trans. Du Bartas.