98 Gardening in Egypt. 



degenerate, but many of these might be made to 

 succeed if grafted on strong plants of the former 

 stock or the Almond (Amygdalus communis) and other 

 established varieties, and thus the quality of the 

 Peach, Plum, Nectarine, Apricot, and other sections 

 of this tribe in Egypt might be considerably improved. 

 All healthy trees should have the branches that have 

 fruited pruned back, and water should be withheld when 

 the trees are in flower and until the fruit attains the 

 size of a pea, water then once a month will be sufficient. 

 Australian varieties would no doubt succeed in Egypt. 



P. domestica The Plum. Two varieties of plums 

 are grown in the country, the above-mentioned, known 

 under the name of Hum-oi-de, and P. divaricata, known 

 as Balady. The former variety is considered the best, 

 and should be grafted on to the latter ; little attention 

 is, however, paid to their cultivation, and as the fruit 

 is consequently poor they are not often grown. Good 

 varieties might be introduced from. Japan. 



Punica granatum Pomegranate Roumman. 

 Often grown in the gardens on account of the 

 decorative nature of its flowers. The plants can be 

 raised from seed sown in October, and by cuttings or 

 layers, which should be made in February. Rich, well- 

 manured soil suits them best, but they require less 

 water than other fruits. Young wood and suckers 

 which often grow at the foot of the trees should be 

 cut away, and the branches that have fruited should 

 be pruned back in the winter when the leaves fall. 



The following varieties are grown : 



Ma-le-ce, a large white variety. 



Balady^ a blood-red variety, used for preserves. 



Ma-grub-be (Tunisian), red and white. 



Sharmi (Syrian), the fruit of which is pink. 



The bark of the tree is used for tanning morocco 

 leather, and the roots are said to be an excellent 

 vermifuge. 



Pyrus communis Pear Coumetre. Fruits of this 

 kind, including the P. malus (Apple), Tofar^ are 



