198 CHAPTER XXVI. 



bird to understand that it was not a grass ; and the 

 result was that I never had the plant in flower. 



Diospyrus kaki, common in the Nice gardens, will 

 not fail to attract the attention of strangers. It is a 

 small deciduous tree of the Ebenacese. Seen from 

 a little distance, the kaki is not very unlike an orange 

 tree, and the resemblance is increased by the large 

 globular yellow fruits. These are sometimes sold as 

 cheap as half a franc a dozen. Notice the persistent 

 tetramerous calyx. Another Diospyrus, the Per- 

 simmon, is less common here. This is a taller tree, 

 with much smaller fruits. " The longest pole knocks 

 the Persimmon." 



The last plant mentioned in the Bible (Rev. 

 xviii. 12) shall also be the last of this chapter. 

 John's "Thyine wood" is thought to be that of 

 Callitris quadrivalvis, an Algerian conifer allied to 

 the cypress. Solomon's " Almug " may possibly be the 

 same. The famous gum sandarach, worth its weight 

 in gold, is the product of this tree. The hard dark 

 fragrant wood was highly valued. " It is stated that 

 Cicero had a table made of it that cost 9,000." I 

 first saw the Callitris in Colonel Evans's garden on the 

 Cimiez hill. , , 





Fig. 74. CONE OF CALLITRIS QUADRIVALVIS. 



