1856.] Our Experimental Farm — Asiatic Seeds. 173 



fowls. But even for that purpose it might be well to give it a trial in 

 your soil. 



No. 6. The Syrian Apricot: — I tliink it probable that these fruit 

 stones may grow in Ohio. If you plant them in the spring, the better 

 way, perhaps, would be to crack the stones before planting. I am not 

 certain that the natural fruit will be very good ;. but these stones are 

 from the most delicious of all the tree fruits in Syria. Here, the peach 

 is always grafted into these Apricot stocks. The fruit when fully ripe 

 soon becomes too soft for handling. Here they are dried with the stones 

 in ; and, as peaches and apples are never dried in Syria, the dried Misli- 

 mosh, as they call this Apricot, is almost the only sort of dried fruit we 

 have besides the fig, which is too sweet for daily use. 



Xo. 7. A Gourd Species : — This is eaten, like the cucumber, while 

 yet immature. It sometimes attains to the length of fou?- feet. Its 

 vine climbs upon a trellis. 



Xo. 8. A Water Melon : — This species of the Water ]\relon is here 

 call Jebas. It flourishes in the region of Homs and is quite distinct 

 from the Jaffa Melon. In appearance it resembles your citron, though 

 much larger. Protected from frost it would continue sound in Ohio till 

 New Years ; indeed it can be preserved in its natural state with even 

 less care than the Pumpkin. 



No. 9 Pomegranate: — This grows here in places as cold as the lati- 

 tude of Cincinnati. Both externally and internally it is a magnificent 

 fruit. The tree is very hardy and comes forward rapidly. It is always 

 small here, because the Arabs never trim their fruit trees, unless it be 

 when in want of fuel I The root is regarded as a valuable medicine. 



No. 10. Castor Bean: — The Castor Bean is here a perennial, when 

 allowed to have its own way; yet it is often planted as in America. I 

 have seen tre^-s of this a foot or more in diameter, and as high as the 

 peach tree. It is a determined, hardy plant that will grow anywhere, 

 and grow very fast. Many suppose it to be identical with Jonah's 

 Gourd [or Jack's, the Giant Killer's fabled Bean Stalk? En.]. Nothing 

 can be more agreeable to the eye than the deep green of its foliage. 



No. 11. Black Egg Plant: — The " Bdo^jan Asicad,'' as the Arabs 

 call this plant, is used everywhere. Plant it like the Okra, and if the 

 soil and culture be good, it will grow from four to six feet in hight ; the 

 fruit hangs from the horizontal limbs. It has a smooth, glossy skin. 

 To my taste it is, however, an insipid sort of trash ; but the people here 

 could scarcely dispense with it. They dry immense quantities of it for 

 their winter use. In its natural state it may be stewed ; but it is usually 



