BENGAZI. 
343 
of the clay of which Adam was created ! It is propagated chiefly (as 
Shaw has informed us) from young shoots taken from the roots of 
full-grown trees, which, if well transplanted and taken care of, will 
yield their fruit in the sixth or seventh year ; whereas those that are 
raised immediately from the kernels will not bear till about their six- 
teenth. Nothing further is necessary to the culture of the palm- 
tree, than that it should be well watered once in four or five days, 
and that a few of the lower boughs should be lopped away whenever 
they begin to droop or wither. “ These” (observes Shaw), “ whose 
stumps, or polhces, in being thus gradually left upon the trunk, 
serve, like so many rounds of a ladder, to climb up the tree, either 
to fecundate it, to lop it, or to gather the fruit, are quickly supplied 
with others which hang down from the crown or top, contributing 
not only to the regular and uniform growth of this tall, knotless, 
beautiful tree, but hkewise to its perpetual and most delightful ver- 
dure. To be exalted (Eccles. xxiv. 14.) or to flourish like the palm- 
tree, are as just and proper expressions, suitable to the nature of this 
plant, as to spread abroad like the Cedar *!' — (Psalm xcii. 11.) 
* The palm-tree, however, though a beautiful tree, is sometimes, it appears, a very 
obstinate one ; and the means which we are told, on Arab authority, should be used to 
render it more docile on these occasions would astonish the horticulturists of Europe-^ 
When a palm-tree refuses to bear (says the Arab author of a treatise on agriculture), 
the owner of it, armed with a hatchet, comes to visit it in company with another person. 
He then begins by observing aloud to his friend (in order that the date-tree should hear 
him) “ I am going to cut down this worthless tree, since it no longer bears me any fruit.” 
— “ Have a care what you do, brother, returns his companion ; I should advise you to do 
no such thing — for I will venture to predict that this very year your tree will be covered 
with fruit.” “ No, no, (replies the owner,) 1 am detei-mined to cut it down, for I am 
