g6 Gardening in Egypt. 



suckers thinned out, and a good surface dressing of 

 cow-manure given. The Banana is propagated by 

 suckers which are usually planted from two to three 

 metres apart in rows, and in well-manured ground, 

 each plant being allowed to develop three fruiting- 

 stems. A thinning of dead leaves should be made at 

 least twice a year. 



M. rosacea. Native of India. A tall, handsome 

 species, with red stems and large, graceful leaves. It 

 is usually grown more as an ornament than for fruit. 

 It bears a small, thick, dark-skinned fruit of a rich 

 flavour, but does not produce so good a crop as the 

 former variety. 



M. Ensete. A West African species of an exceed- 

 ingly ornamental appearance, grown chiefly as a 

 specimen plant, on lawns. It has a thick stem, and 

 large, handsome leaves, and requires two or three years 

 or even longer to flower. It may be propagated from 

 seed, but the fruit is useless, and the pla^t should 

 not be exposed to heavy winds, or the beauty of 

 the foliage will be destroyed. 



Opuntia Ficus indica Indian Fig Teen Shok. 

 The fruit, which is considered very wholesome and 

 nutritious, is borne in great quantities on large 

 cactaceous shrubs. It ripens in the middle of July, and 

 should be gathered early in the morning and eaten 

 at once, as it soon turns soft after picking. Care 

 should be taken when peeling the fruit that th^ 

 minute thorns do not enter the flesh, as they are 

 difficult to extract. The plants, which make an ex- 

 cellent hedge for a dry windy position, can be grown 

 from cuttings taken in May, and no attention need 

 be given them after they have rooted. The leaves when 

 boiled can be used instead of size for whitewashing. 



O. maxima and other varieties are also grown for 

 decorative purposes. 



Physalis peruviana Cape Gooseberry Halwah, 

 The plant which belongs to the Potato family 



