No. 133.] 243 



yellow. Fragments of these trees are scattered everywhere 

 among the sands of the desert ; but the most interesting locality 

 is a sterile irregular platteau, which reposes on marine limestone, 

 considerably above the level of the Nile, about seven miles east 

 by soutli from Cairo. This district is called the petrified forest, 

 from the immense quantities of silicified trees with wiiich it is 

 covered. Many of tlie trunks are scattered over the surface, 

 among rolled and angular fragments of dark grit, and pebbles of 

 jasper, chert and quartz. The large trunks occur in greatest 

 numbers on dark colored knolls, where they lie, like broken 

 stems of a prostrate forest, crossing each other at various angles. 

 Two of the largest measured forty-eight and sixty feet in length, 

 and two and a half and three feet in diameter at the base. With 

 but two or three exceptions, all the specimens examined micro- 

 scopically, possess dicotyledonous structure. No traces of seed 

 vessels or leaves have been discovered. The situation and con- 

 dition of these silicified trees indicate great change in the rela- 

 tive position of the land and sea in that part of Egypt ; the trees 

 must have grown on the dry land formed by the bed of a former 

 ocean • this must have been submerged and covered by beds of 

 sand and rolled pebbles, and lastly, the Whole series of deposits 

 were raised to their present situation, the retiring waters having 

 removed the loose portion of the once continuous strata that were 

 last formed, and dispersed them over the surface of the Lybian 

 and Egyptian deserts. 



ASPARAGUS*. 



The Maison Rustique (Farm House,) says, that it is met with 

 in a wild state in Sicily, in Italy, and in all parts of Low Pro- 

 vence, comprised between the sea and the mountains, from Tou- 

 lon to Antibes. That it is fond of the banks of rivulets unculti- 

 vated, and of ravines. In size it is not larger than a quill, but 

 grows as tall as the cultivated plant. That its taste is very high, 

 and incomparabj^' more delicate than that of our cultivated aspa- 

 ragus, even than the very best raised in our gardens. 



CELERY 



. Is not much used in France, and that only as a seasoning for 

 soups and salads. It is increasing' in use lately. Celery is an 



