pfarit 'bore, Tsege^/, ansl "bijric/. 



--':) 



The Apple-blossom is considered to be an emblem of preference. 

 To dream of Apples betokens long life, success in trade, and a 

 lover's faithfulness. 



APPLE OF SODOM. — The Solanum Sodomcum is a purple 

 Egg-plant of which the fruit is naturally large and handsome. It 

 is, however, subject to the attacks of an insedl; (a species of Cyuips), 

 which punctures the rind, and converts the interior of the fruit into 

 a substance like ashes, while the outside remains fair and beautiful. 

 It is found on the desolate shores of the Dead Sea, on the site of 

 those cities of the plain the dreadful judgment on which is recorded 

 in sacred history. Hence the fruit, called the Apple of Sodom, 

 has acquired a sinister reputation, and is regarded as the symbol 

 of sin. Its first appearance, it is said, is always attended with a 

 bitter north-east wind, and therefore ships for the Black Sea take care 

 to sail before the harbinger of bad weather comes forth. The fruit 

 is reputed to be poisonous. Josephus, the Jewish historian, speaks 

 of them as having "a fair colour, as if they were fit to be eaten; 

 but if you pluck them with your hand, they vanish into smoke and 

 ashes." Milton, describing an Apple which added new torments 

 to the fallen angels, compares it to the Apples of Sodom: — 



" Greedily they pluck'd 

 The fruitajje fair to sight, like that which grew 

 Near that bituminous lake wheie Sodom flamed. 

 This mere delusion, not the touch but taste 

 Deceived ; they fondly thinking to allay 

 Their appetite with gust, instead of fruit 

 Chewed bitter ashes." 



Henry Teonge, who visited the country round the Dead Sea in 

 1675, describes it as being "all over full of stones which looke just 

 like burnt syndurs, and on some low shrubbs there grow small 

 round things which are called Apples, but no witt like them. They 

 are somewhat fay re to looke at, but touch them and they smoulder 



all to black ashes, like soote both for looks and smell." The name 



Apple of Sodom is also given to a kind of Gall-nut, which is found 

 growing on various species of dwarf Oaks on the banks of the 



Jordan. Dead Sea Apples is a term applied to the Bussorah 



Gall-nut, which is formed on the Oak Quercus infcdoria by an inse(5t, 

 and being of a bright ruddy purple, but filled with a gritty powder, 

 they are suggestive of the deceptive Apple of Sodom. 



" Dead Sea fruits, that tempt the eye, 

 But turn to ashes on the lips." 



Apple of Paradise, or Adam's Apple. — See Banana. 



Apple, Love. — See Solanum. 



Apple, Mad. — See Solanum. 



APRICOT. — According to Columella, the Persians sent the 

 Peach to Egypt to poison the inhabitants ; and a species of Apricot 

 is called by the people of Barbary, Matza Franca, or the " Killer of 



Q 



