ther forests nor woods and, as
practically the whole of the country which will support vegetation is
devoted to agriculture, the flora is limited. The most important tree
is the date-palm, which grows all over Egypt and in the oases. The
lower branches being regularly cut, this tree grows high and assumes a
much more elegant form than in its natural state. The dom-palm is
first seen a little north of 26 deg. N., and extends southwards. The
vine grows well, and in ancient times was largely cultivated for wine;
oranges, lemons and pomegranates also abound. Mulberry trees are
common in Lower Egypt. The sunt tree (_Acacia nilotica_) grows
everywhere, as well as the tamarisk and the sycamore. In the deserts
halfa grass and several kinds of thorn bushes grow; and wherever rain
or springs have moistened the ground, numerous wild flowers thrive.
This is especially the case where there is also shade to protect them
from the midday sun, as in some of the narrow ravines in the eastern
desert and in the palm groves of the oases, where various ferns and
flowers grow luxuriantly round the springs. Among many trees which
have been imported, the "lebbek" (_Albizzia lebbek_), a thick-foliaged
mimosa, thrives especially, and has been very largely employed. The
weeping-willow, myrtle, elm, cypress and eucalyptus are also used in
the gardens and plantations.

The most common of the fruits are dates, of which there are nearly
thirty varieties, which are sold half-ripe, ripe, dried, and pressed
in their fresh moist state in mats or skins. The pressed dates of Siwa
are among the most esteemed. The Fayum is celebrated for its grapes,
and chiefly supplies the market of Cairo. The most common grape is
white, of which there is a small kind far superior to the ordinary
sort. The black grapes are large, but comparatively tasteless. The
vines are trailed on trelliswork, and form agreeable avenues in the
gardens of Cairo. The best-known fruits, besides dates and grapes, are
figs, sycamore-figs and pomegranates, apricots and peaches, oranges
and citrons, lemons and limes, bananas, which are believed to be of
the fruits of Paradise (being always in season), different kinds of
melons (including some of aromatic flavour, and the refreshing
water-melon), mulberries, Indian figs or prickly pears, the fruit of
the lotus and olives. Among the more usual cultivated flowers are the
rose (w