3(l AVORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1)S0{). 



sica from (he arbutus unedo. The name strawberry tree in the 

 United States has been applied to the Euonynui< americanu^, a 

 very ditl'erent plant of an entirely different order. I think it 

 does not grow wild, at least I only recall seeing it cultivated in 

 gardens. 



The vitex agnus-castus, in company with the oleander, is found 

 on the banks of all the rivers in Asia Minor. The pink and 

 lilac blossoms form a beautiful combination in color, while their 

 frao-rance fills the air. The ao^nus-castus derived its name from 

 being carried by the priestesses in the festivals held in honor of 

 Ceres. To this day, certain virtues are ascribed to it. 



Of the numerous flowers ajrowinoj wild on the hillsides of the 

 Bosphorus those coming most prominently to my remembrance 

 are beautiful anemones, red, white, pink and yellow ; three 

 kinds of thistles, pink, purple and yellow ; single hollyhocks of 

 great diversity of color ; forget-me-nots and English daisies ; 

 poppies flaunting their blood-red banners amid the pale lavender 

 of the flax fields ; white snowdrops and bloodroots pushing up 

 their delicate flowers ; the sign and symbol of the coming spring ; 

 while Scotch heather, wild thyme and lavender made the air 

 redolent with their spicy fragrance. A species of erigeron or 

 flea-bane, which is used (from its strong odor) to keep oft' 

 noxious insects, light up with a ruddy glow the parched and 

 withered vegetation of the islands of the Marmora in the fall. 

 The Pancraliun maritimum abounds in all the sandy plains of 

 Asia Minor. It propagates by seed as well as bulb. It is 

 claimed to be the lily of which our Saviour said, "And Solo- 

 mon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." A 

 gigantic arum grows on the plains of Broosa, the flower 

 reaching the height of four feet, its spathe edged with purple 

 and the stem variegated like tortoise shell. In a little valley 

 lying at the foot of Mt. Olympus is one of the most fragrant 

 spots in the world. It is planted entirely with roses of the 

 centifolia, damascena and moschata varieties. For here is 

 manufactured that most costly of essences, the attar of rose. 

 As it takes the petals of 100,000 roses to yield 180 grains of 

 attar, you can readily understand how many thousands were 



