20 The Ottawa Naturalist. [April 



for about eight miles around the city. Most of the crop is sent 

 to England. A very effective hedge, consisting of a form of 

 cacti is generally used around the orange groves. The countr}^ 

 around Jaffa is fairly prosperous. The field crops consist largely 

 of wheat. The flowers of this region are poppy anemones, and 

 cyclamens, many of the latter being as good as our cultivated 

 forms. Thirty miles inland from Jaffa, the country begins to 

 get barren and desolate. Palestine has few trees and in the 

 Jerusalem district the Olive is the only tree. There are a few 

 annual flowers. 



Mr. Whyte spent four days in Jerusalem and from there 

 visited such places as Bethlehem. His large collection of picture 

 postcards added interest to the talk. 



F. E. B. 



EXCURSIONS. 



The Excursion Committee of the Club has arranged the 

 following spring excursions : — 

 May 8 — Rockcliffe. 

 " IS — Iron Mines at Ironside. 

 " 22 — Britannia. 



29 — Aylmer. 

 June 5 — Rideau Canal by Motor Boats. 



Prizes offered for Collections to be made During 1915 

 For the best collection of not less than 50 different species 

 of native Canadian deciduous trees and shrubs, illustrating the 

 reproductive, vegetative and dormant stages of the same. 

 Prize valued at $5.00 offered by Miss F. Fyles, Experimental 

 Farm, Ottawa. 



For an essay on any topic relating to Canadian Botany — 

 No limit to length. Prize valued at $5.00 offered by Mr. H. 

 T. Gussow, Dominion Botanist, Experimental Farm, Ottawa. 



For the best collection of dried specimens of fungi of no 

 less than 100 species. Prize valued at $5.00 offered by Mr. 

 H. T. Gussow, Experimental Farm, Ottawa. 



For the best collection of at least 200 species of insects 

 from the Ottawa District, special marks to be given for species 

 attacking garden and field crops. Prize valued at $5.00 offered 

 by Mr. Arthur Gibson, Entomological Branch, Ottawa. 



For the first information of a prehistoric village site or 

 cemetery within ten miles of the Victoria Memorial Museum, 

 available for exploration. Prize valued at $5.00 offered by Mr. 

 Harlan I. Smith. 



Directions re the making of above collections and further 

 information may be had on application to the donors. 



