232 THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 
Apple—I am not quite satisfied with Mr. Carne’s view 
that quince is the correct rendering of the word translated “ap- 
ple.” Careful reading of the references in Song. Sol., 2 Ch., 
3, 5; 7 Ch. 8; 8 Ch, 5 and Prov., 25 Ch., 11, indicates a 
fragrant ornamental tree with a grateful shade, rather than a 
useful one, and, although the quince was common, it is not a 
delicate fruit, but rather coarse, probably requiring cooking be- 
fore use, nor is the tree fragrant. Reference to Josephus 
shows that branches of citron were in regular ritual use amongst 
the Jews, and so the tree must have been freely grown. 
Certainly opinion on the identity of the tree is divided, 
' amongst authorities. Rendle, following Hooker and Tristram, 
considers the Apricot (Armeniaca vulgaris) as the most pro- 
bable, because of the sweetness and beauty of its fruit. Mr. 
Carne states that the Citron is ruled out because of its bitter- 
ness. The Ene. Britt. states that the Hebrew tappuah, rendered 
“apples” and “apple tree” in Song. Sol., ete., probably signifies 
the citron tree, a fragrant tree about 10 ft. high, and that the 
pulp is sub-acid and edible, the seeds bitter. It was “knownr 
to the ancients and the fruit was held in great esteem by them.” 
I have no very decided opinion on the matter, but it appears 
to me that either the citron or apricot have a greater balance 
of probability than the quince. It is quite probable that the 
citron was used in the form of conserves, just as we use both 
sweet and bitter oranges. 
Fir, Pine, Box.—These, again, are trees about which there 
exists a good deal of difference of opinion. In the case of 
the fir, Rendle favours Pinus halepensis, while Balfour decides 
for Cupressus sempervirens. I have not before seen Abies 
' cilicia suggested. A good deal of rather free translation has 
occurred under the name “pine.” Thus Isa., 44 Ch., 14, the word - 
translated “ash” probably refers to a species of pine, and in 
Neh., 8 Ch., 23, the term ec shemen, translated “pine-branches” 
is elsewhere correctly rendered “oil—tree.” 
I have already dealt with the references to box. 
Oak.—Kyidently the name @Q. pseudococcifera, quoted by 
me for Abraham’s oak is merely a synonymy of that given by 
Mr. Carne. 
Sycamore—tit is true that this is a large tree, with low 
spreading branches, easily climbed. 
Wheat.—My authority for stating that the wheat of Pales- 
tine is Spelt, is Rendle, who says:—“The form now most 
generally grown in Palestine is Spelt (Triticwm  spelta).? 
Hooker and Tristram merely mention 7. vulgare, T. spelta and 
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