484 
SACRED AND CLASSICAL PLANTING. 
out the walls of Babylon. Thisbe was first 
there, but the unlooked-for arrival of a lioness 
frightened her away ; and as she fled she 
dropped her veil, which the lioness found and 
left covered with blood. The lover soon after 
arrived, and having found Thisbe's veil bloody, 
concluded that she had been torn to pieces by 
wild beasts. He instantly stabbed himself. 
When she had so far recovered, Thisbe re- 
turned, and when she saw the dying Pyramus, 
she fell upon the sword with which he destroyed 
himself. The mulben-y-tree was stained with 
the blood of the lovers, and ever afterwards 
bore fruit of that colour. 
Standard mulberries should invariably have 
a strong stake set up beside them to keep 
them in an upright position, and this should 
be continued until the tree is at least twenty 
years of age. The prevailing characteristic 
of mulberry-trees throughout England, when 
left entirely to ' jNature, is, that they are one- 
sided and top-heavy, requiring props to sup- 
port them. This defect might be easily 
remedied by applying the aid alluded to. The 
trees should be planted in sheltered situations, 
iu rich trenched soil, kept up by frequent ma- 
nurings. When so treated the fruit is large 
and juicy. 
The Pomegranate (Punica Granatum),¥Vvny 
informs us, was first found near Carthage. It 
is the malus punica of the Romans, and the 
rimon of the Hebrews, probably from rama, 
to project, from the strong projection or reflec- 
tion of light from the star-like crown of the 
fruit which bears the upper part of the calyx. 
The high estimation in which this tree was 
held in the land of Israel may be inferred 
from the fact, that it was one of the three 
kinds of fruit brought from Eschol to Moses 
and the congregation in the wilderness ; and 
from its being distinguished by the rebellious 
sojourners as one of the most delicious luxu- 
ries they enjoyed in Egypt. No circumstance 
more clearly evinces the value which the 
Eastern nations put upon this fruit than the 
choice which king Solomon makes of it to re- 
present certain graces of the Church — " Thy 
temples are like a piece of pomegranate within 
thy locks." The ornaments placed in the net- 
work over the crowns which were on the top 
of the two brazen pillars of Solomon's temple 
were carvings of this fruit, as were also those 
decorations ordered to be fixed on the skirt of 
Aaron's robe. Greece was full of it. That 
district known as the land of Pindar, Hesiod, 
and Plutarch, was in particular noted for rich 
crops of this fruit. Agatharchides relates the 
following anecdote connected with this tree : 
A dispute arising between the Athenians and 
Boeotians, respecting a spot called Side, situ- 
ated on the borders, Epaminondas, in order to 
decide the question, took out a pomegranate 
from under his robe, and demanded of the 
Athenians what they called it. "Rhoa," they 
replied. " Very good," said Epaminondas ; 
" but we call it Side, and, as the place derives 
its name from the fruit which grows there in 
abundance, it is clear the land must belong to 
us." And it was decided in favour of the 
Boeotians. In fine seasons it produces its 
fruit of the full size in this country when 
trained against a wall. 
The Fig-tree is frequently mentioned in the 
Holy Scriptures, and is common throughout 
Palestine and the East generally. Amongst the 
ancient Hebrews it was known as thaena, 
signifying the tree of grief, probably from the 
leaf causing inflammation when applied to the 
body. It was of this tree that our first parents, 
immediately after the fall, twisted for them- 
selves girdles or aprons. Throughout the 
Holy Land the failure or destruction of the 
fig-tree was accounted one of the greatest pub- 
lic or private calamities. Hence it is said, 
" Although the fig-tree shall not blossom, &c. 
yet I will rejoice in the Lord." In ancient 
Greece this fruit-tree was well known and ex- 
tensively cultivated. It was the pride of Attica. 
According to the traditions of the Athenians, 
figs first grew on a spot not far distant from 
the city on the road to Eleusis, thence called 
Hiera Suke, " the sacred fig-tree." So much 
prized was the fruit here produced, that the 
inhabitants were forbidden to export them. 
This law, however, was often contravened, and 
the informers against the delinquents were 
called sycophants, or " revealers of figs ;" a 
word which has since been in use to charac- 
terise mean-souled, dastardly persons, such as 
informers generally are. Naxos, a celebrated 
country in the ./Egean sea, was celebrated for 
its fig-trees, which were especially cherished by 
Bacchus, who was the chief god of the island. 
Here this divinity obtained the title of Meili- 
chios, " the gracious," because he taught them 
the use of this fruit. In the processions of 
this god the fig was carried next to the vine. 
Throughout Sussex the fig is planted as a 
standard ; and it is in this character that it 
can be best introduced in a classical group 
with others. 
To the Olive-tree the Sacred Writings 
abound in references ; it has been from the 
earliest ages the emblem of peace, and the 
bounteous gift of Heaven. In the garden of 
the Horticultural Society at Chiswick. and in 
several parts of Devonshire, it grows as a 
standard, and survives the severest winter. 
In other counties, therefore, it may be made 
to flourish with the aid of shelter. This tree 
rose plentifully all over Judea, and so viewed, 
excites a crowd of interesting reflections in 
every well-disposed mind. Thus it is often 
figuratively used in the poetical diction of the 
