1877.] 



AND EORTIGULTURIST. 



255 



village of Metarich, a few miles distant from 

 Cairo, and in the immediate neighborhood of the 

 ancient Heliopolis, whose site is now occupied 

 by a few scattered ruins and a picturesque 

 monolith of over 50 yards high. Near this 

 monolith is the present village of Metarich, an 

 old heap of houses in a state of ruin, presenting 

 a most wretched appearance, but surrounded, 

 however, by large and well-cultivated gardens, 

 in the center of which rises,with an imposing ap- 

 pearance, the large tree of the Blessed Virgin 

 (Segar el Marium), under whose shade tradition 

 has it that the Holy Family reposed at the time 

 of their flight into Egypt. This Sycamore is very 

 large ; seven men with extended arms could 

 hardly encircle it. Its age is unknown, but by 

 the concentric circle which a section of one of 

 its largest branches, which has been detached 

 from the trunk for some years past, presents, we 

 may conclude that it has withstood the storms 

 of several centuries. The present Viceroy of 

 Egypt, at the time of the inauguration of the 

 Suez Canal, presented this Sycamore to France, 

 in accordance with the desire expressed by the 

 Empress Eugenie, who went to see it. She had 

 it surrounded with an elegant railing, and ap- 

 pointed two guardians to protect it and take 

 care of the Lilies and Geraniums which she 

 caused to be planted around it; these guardians 

 are still paid by France. This tree is held in 

 great veneration not only by the Christians, but 

 even by the Arabs. Natives and foreigners 

 gather its leaves, to which they attribute thera- 

 peutic virtues. 



[This is a kind of fig — the Ficus Sycamorus, 

 which is the Sycamore of the Scriptures. The 

 English Sycamore (Acer pseudo platanus) or 

 Sycamore Maple, no doubt derives its name from 

 a somewhat similar leaf, and the American Syca- 

 more (Platanus Occidentalis) from the resem- 

 blance of the leaf to the Sycamore Maple. — Ed. 

 G. M.] 



Dartmouth College has conferred the degree 

 of Ph. D. on Marshall x*. Wilder of Boston and 

 John E-. Eastman of Washington ; the degree of 

 D. D. on President Buckham of Vermont Uni- 

 versity, and LL. D. on Edward F. Noyes, U. S. 

 Minister to France. 



ROBERT B. Parsons. — In acknowledging the 

 receipt of three new varieties of Magnolias in the 

 July number, page 198, an error made us say 

 " R. B. Parsons & Son." There is no such firm. 

 We owe the attention to the personal kindness 



of the above-named gentleman, who is the head 

 of the well-known firm of R. B. Parsons & Co. 



Obituary. — R. Robinson Scott, formerly of 

 Philadelphia, died at Harrisburg, Pa., on the 

 24th day of June, in his 51st year. 



American Pomological Society. — We would 

 again strongly urge the State Societies to send full 

 and representative delegations to hospitable Bal- 

 timore, at its Sixteenth session, commencing 

 Wednesday, September 12, 1877, at 10 o'clock 

 A. m., and continuing three days. See previous 

 announcement. May number, page 159. 



All Horticultural, Pomological, Agricultural 

 and other kindred Associations in the United 

 States and British Provinces, are invited to send 

 delegations as large as they may deem expedient ; 

 and all persons interested in the cultivation of 

 fruits are invited to be present, and take seats in 

 the Convention. 



The coming Session is expected to be unusu- 

 ally interesting from its location in the great 

 fruit-growing region of the Atlantic coast, and 

 from the experiences of the century embodied in 

 the reports of the State and local Horticultural 

 Societies. 



Arrangements will be made with hotels, and, 

 as far as possible with the various railroad lines 

 terminating in Baltimore for a reduction of fare. 

 Rates made by Baltimore roads will apply only to 

 their lines. It is hoped that arrangements have 

 been, or will be made by the various delegations 

 with the roads in their own localities. 



At the same time, from September 11th to 14th 

 inclusive, the Maryland Horticultural Society 

 will hold a gi-and exhibition of fruits, plants, 

 flowers and other products of Horticulture, by 

 which an increased interest will be given to the 

 occasion. 



Packages of fruits with names of contributors, 

 may be addressed as follows: — "American Po- 

 mological Society, care of Wm. B. Sands, Balti- 

 more, Md." 



Massachusetts already announces, in numbers 

 and statistics, a strong delegation, which, lieaded 

 by the honored President of the National Society, 

 will make her a host. Will not the other States 

 do as well, or possibly better? 



Dick's Garden Hand-books. — The Vegetable 

 Garden, by James Hogg. New York, Dick & Fitz- 

 gerald. This is a little book, but is rare to find 

 one so well condensed. It is an epitome of vege- 

 table garden work for the whole season and for 

 every kind of crop. Mr. Hogg writes from ex- 



