BENGAZI. 343 of the clay of which Adam was created ! It is propagated chiefly (as Shaw has informed us) from young shoots taken from the roots of full-grown trees, which, if well transplanted and taken care of, will yield their fruit in the sixth or seventh year ; whereas those that are raised immediately from the kernels will not bear till about their sixteenth. Nothing further is necessary to the culture of the palmtree, than that it should be well watered once in four or five days, and that a few of the lower boughs should be lopped away whenever they begin to droop or wither. “ These” (observes Shaw), “ whose stumps, or polhces, in being thus gradually left upon the trunk, serve, like so many rounds of a ladder, to climb up the tree, either to fecundate it, to lop it, or to gather the fruit, are quickly supplied with others which hang down from the crown or top, contributing not only to the regular and uniform growth of this tall, knotless, beautiful tree, but hkewise to its perpetual and most delightful verdure. To be exalted (Eccles. xxiv. 14.) or to flourish like the palmtree, are as just and proper expressions, suitable to the nature of this plant, as to spread abroad like the Cedar*!' — (Psalm xcii. 11.)

* The palm-tree, however, though a beautiful tree, is sometimes, it appears, a very obstinate one ; and the means which we are told, on Arab authority, should be used to render it more docile on these occasions would astonish the horticulturists of Europe-When a palm-tree refuses to bear (says the Arab author of a treatise on agriculture), the owner of it, armed with a hatchet, comes to visit it in company with another person.

He then begins by observing aloud to his friend (in order that the date-tree should hear him) “ I am going to cut down this worthless tree, since it no longer bears me any fruit.” — “ Have a care what you do, brother, returns his companion ; I should advise you to do no such thing — for I will venture to predict that this very year your tree will be covered with fruit.” “ No, no, (replies the owner,) 1 am detei-mined to cut it down, for I am