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trees of temperate or even tropical regions flour- 

 ish and thrive. Beneath the surface rocks there 

 is an inexhaustible bed of marl eminently adapted 

 for the support of trees. The Gozitans were form- 

 erly in the habit of destroying all trees along 

 the roads lest their spreading roots should lessen 

 the yield of cotton from the adjacent fields. The 

 carouba is the most common tree, but it abounds 

 chiefly in the eastern districts of Malta. The aloe, 

 actus indicus, and geranium attain a considerable 

 size. The principal fruits are strawberries, figs, 

 pomegranates, grapes, prickly pears, apples, pears, 

 peaches, nectarines, apricots, plums, cherries, melons, 

 and lemons. Also the Japanese medlar or nespoli 

 and the orange, which latter is not surpassed any- 

 where in the Mediterranean. Even the best varie- 

 ties of grapes speedily degenerate in these islands. 

 The planting of trees would lessen the excess- 

 ive heat, increase the water supply, and multiply 

 fruits, vegetables, and flowers. The indigenous plants 

 of which Dr. Zerapha enumerates 644 species are 

 more numerous than might perhaps be expected 

 from the rocky nature of the soil and the almost 

 universal cultivation. The marine flora are of course 

 numerous. The grass wrack is washed on shore in 

 vast quantities, and does good service as manure- 

 Those however which require a sandy beach are 

 comparatively rare such as Polygonum maritimum 

 found at the Marsa and St. George's Bay, Galtile 



