DICECIA. 207 



we have several exotic species, and among them the Weep- 

 ing Willow, (Salix Babylonica.) This is a native of the 

 East, and was introduced into England from the Levant, in 

 1692, and from England to America. It has been said that 

 the celebrated Pope introduced this tree into England, but 

 this appears to be a mistake, since he was only a few years 

 old at the time of its introduction. The celebrated specimen 

 of this tree which stood in the poet's garden at Twickenham, 

 was a cutting from some rods employed in a package which 

 came from Spain. Pope being present when the package 

 was opened, observed that one of the rods was still green, 

 and under the impression that it might produce something 

 new in England, planted it in his garden. From this came 

 Pope's famous willow, so often mentioned by travellers, and 

 which, though it has given rise to many others, is not the 

 parent tree of all the others, nor was it the first in that 

 country. Enc. of Plants. 



The Yellow Willow, (Salix vitellina,) is a native of Eu- 

 rope, though so generally disseminated as often to be thought 

 an indigenous tree. It is believed that we have only the pis- 

 tillate tree in this country, and hence the Willow can only be 

 cultivated from the roots, or by layers. 



ORDER III. TRIANDRIA. Stamens 3. 



GENUS Phoenix. Date Palm. Phoenix is the Greek name 

 for the Date, probably from Phoenicia, whence the best kinds 

 were brought. The common Date Palm, (Ph&nix dactylifera,) 

 is a lofty tree of the Palm kind, which grows in the Levant, 

 and East Indies. The Date is a stone fruit, which, being 

 dried, is sent to most parts of the world. In Arabia and Per- 

 sia this fruit makes a considerable part of the food of the 

 poorer classes, and the stones are ground into provender for 

 their camels. 



ORDER IV. TETRANDRIA. Stamens 4. 



GENUS Myrica. Candleberry. Myrtle. Name from the 

 Greek muro, to flow, because these plants grow on the banks 

 of rivers. There are several species of this genus growing 

 in different parts of this country. The Bayberry, (Myrica 

 cerifera,) produces the substance called bayberry tallow. This 

 shrub or bush grows four or five feet high, and produces 

 abundance of grey, hard berries, about the size of allspice. 

 To obtain the tallow, these are picked in the fall, and thrown 



