Climate and Soil. 



Cairo, but rarely flower or grow into fine specimens 

 in Alexandria. 



It is advisable to remember that plants which have 

 been housed during the winter, cannot at once with- 

 stand the full force of the sun, and therefore it is 

 necessary for the first week or so, to place them in a 

 half-shady position in order to subject them to a 

 system of " hardening ofif," and so prevent their foliage 

 from being scorched by the sun. 



At the end of the cold season, about the middle of 

 April, is the time when most of the European plants 

 and annuals are generally at their best. This is also 

 the best season for roses, though some species flower 

 more or less all through the summer, and produce 

 again a second show of bloom in the early autumn. 



This influx of flowers of temperate climes, is followed 

 by a still more gorgeous' display from the tropical 

 plants. Thus we see to perfection in May, the blue 

 Jacaranda mimosifolia, and in June and July, the red 

 Poinciana regia of Madagascar, which rank amongst 

 the most brilliant of all Egyptian flowering trees. 



SOIL. 



In this accommodating Egyptian climate, a sheltered 

 position is perhaps more necessary than the quality of 

 the soil, although the salt sandy soil of Alexandria, 

 has a detrimental effect on all trees and plants, as 

 can easily be seen when the gardens there are 

 compared with those of Cairo. 



There are three different kinds of soil, with which 

 one generally comes in contact, when laying out 

 gardens in Egypt :(ist) Either the alluvial Nile mud, which 

 is chiefly met with in Cairo and the neighbourhood. 

 (2nd) The debris of Alexandria, which contains a large 

 percentage of salt, sand,and lime. (3rd) Or,again,the sand 

 of Ramleh, from which the place derives its name. 

 But in spite of the drawbacks of a very poor soil, 

 most creditable gardens, producing an abundance of 

 flowers, are seen in Ramleh, and this speaks well 

 of the attention which is paid to them by their owners. 



B 2 



