SuBSBCT. 2. Gardening in European Turkey, Gi-eece, and Albania, as io Floivers,
Plants o f Ornament, and Botanic Gardens.
536. Flower-gardening. “ When the Turks,” observes Deleuze, “ by the taking of
Constantinople, had given stability to their einpfre, they devoted themselves particularly
to tho culture of flowers.” Belon, in 1558, speaks Avith admiration of the gardens Avliich
ho saw among them. “ There are no people,” he says, “ Avho delight more to ornament
themselves Avith beautiful floAvers, nor Avho praise them more, than the Turks. They
think little of their smell, but delight most in thcir appearance. They wear several sorts
singly in the folds of thcir turban ; and the artisans have often several fioAvcrs of different
colours before them, in vessels of water. Hence gardening is in as great repute Avith them
as Avith us ; and they grudge no expense in procuring foreign trees and plants, especiiilly
such as have fine flowers.” Busby, ambassador at Constantinople in 1550, has the same
remarks ; and adds, that they frequently ^^ve flowers in presents ; and that, though very
avaricious in other things, they do not hesitate to pay dear for them.
537. The botany ofthe neighbourhood o f Constantinople has been examined and remarked
upon, in a very interesting manner, by the Rev. Dr. Robert Walsh ; and the result was
communicated to the Horticultural Society of London in 1824. The foUoAving is the
essence of Dr. Walsh's vciy interesting paper : —
Ch-cis Biliquastrum, b u t not the kerkis of T heophrastus, is found clothing the shores of th e Bosphorus
.Tiid Mount Libanus : the flowers bu rst out from every part of the branches and tru n k , nearly down
to the root, and they are gathered and used in salads.
Cerathnia Siliqua, described by Dioscorides and Pliny ; almost th e only tree th a t grows a t Malta ;
also iu th e islands o fth e Archipelago, and in great abundance in the wilderness of Palestine, where its
produce is at this day used for food. T h e substance of the pod is thick, and th e pulp within is remarkably
sweet and nutritious, resembling manna in taste and consistence. It is sent from Palestine to
Alexandria in ship-loads, and from thence over the Mediterranean, and as far as Constantinople, where
it is sold in all th e shops. It is occasionally to be bought in London, under its Spanish name of
^ ; common : conjectured by Sibthorp to be th e lotos of Dioscorides, which Homer says
has so sweet a taste, th a t those who eat it forget th eir own country. “ It boars a berry of a light yellow,
which changes to dark brown: it has a sweet pleasant taste, and th e modern Greeks are very fond
'^^CÙvréssus horizoTUdlis “ was supposed by Pliny to be th e male of C. sempervircns, and modern
botanists consider it only a variety, b u t undoubtedly it is a different species. The character of the
whole tree is distinct and permanent, the branches project as horizontally as those of the oak, and th e
tree m ore resembles a pine than a cypress. It is in great abundance, mixed with th e C. sempervircns, m
all the T urkish cemeteries. Wherever a T u rk of respectability buries one of his family, he plants a
young cypress at the head of th e grave, as well because its aromatic resin qualifles the putrid effluvia of
the place, as because its evergreen foliage is an emblem of immortality. It is never planted m the
cemeteries of the m odern Greeks, though it was from them, perhaps, the T u rk s adopted th e practice.
Diospqros LUus is not described by th e ancients, b u t is found every where along the Bosphorus.
“ It was originally brought from the country between the Euxine and Caspian seas ; and is therefore
called th e date of Trebisond. It bears abundantly a light brown fruit, nearly as large as a walnut, wluch
is sometimes sold in the markets under th e name of Tarabrcsan Curmasl. T h e recent fruit is austere,
b u t would make a good conserve.” _ ^
Elwagnus amnistifòlia, the wild olive of Theophrastus, Dioscorides, and Pliny, is common about
Constantinople, in low moist situations. “ T h e fruit is sold in the markets under the name of Ighide
agaghi, and is usually brought from th e low groimds about Scutari and other similar places ou th e
Asiatic shore. It abounds with a dry, mealy, saccharine substance, which is sweet and pleasant, and has
the property of retaining a long time its usual he ssiizzee aanndd ffoorrmm..”” .
'¿izuphus vulsàris. “ This tree has excited great controversy among botanists ; and Linnæus, W illde-
.low Michaux, and Persoon, all differ in their description of it. Shaw supposes it was like the lotus of
Theophrastus and Pliny, and Sir James Smith, th a t it was th e paliurus. Wha t is certain, however, is,
th a t it is the tree which produces th e fru it sold in abundance in th e markets of Constantinople, under
th e name of Hiinnab agaghi, and which has for a long time been imported into th e Avest of Europe
under th e name of Jujube. It is minutely and accurately described by Pomet, I,emery, and Touniemrt,
and forms an article in the old pharmacopceias. I m et with it frequently in th e Ionian Islands ; and tho
T u rk s of Constantinople plant it before th e ir coffee-houses, with other trees, to enjoy th e shade and
fruit in their season.” . „
Valitlrus aculeàtus forms the hedges of Asia, which are most impassable fences. I am disposed to
th in k th a t this is the real Christ’s T h orn, ra th e r than that called Spina Christi. T h e seeds are sold in
the herb-shops of Constantinople, and th e native hakims, or doctors, prescribe them in many complaints,
under th e name of X allé. They are also used as a dye.”
Me7?rt Azedarach was not known to the ancients, though found “ abundantly all through the Mediterranean
and th e Archipelago, in Europe, Asia, and Africa. It is always planted in the area of a
monastery ; and th e caloyers, or Greek monks, form the furrowed seeds into beads, and hence it is
called the bead tree. The white pulpy exterior of th e seeds is said to be highly poisonous, and Avicenna,
th e Arabian physician, cautions people even against th e leaves and wood: hence th e Arabs call it
zederact, which signifies poison ; th e seeds are never eaten by birds. It is, however, a very beautiful
tree, with large, compound, pinnate foiiagc, and rich spikes of lilac flowers.”
Kcacia Julibrissin ; an exceedingly beautiful tree, and th e largest of the genus : th a t in the British
palace garden a t Constantinople has a tru n k of a foot in diameter. The foliage is highly susceptible of
tlie variations of th e atmosphere ; it affords a thick shade on a b right day, but when it threatens ram, or
when a cloud obscures the sun, th e leaflets immediately close th eir under surface together, till th e sun
again appears. “ T h e flowers consist of large pencils or clusters of stamens, of a b right pink hue, and
rick silky tex tu re ; and hence the Turks, who are particularly fond of the tree, have given it th e soft
and fanciful name of gul-ibrisim, th e silk-rose, and hence is derived its specific n.ame with botanists.
It is now found in all the gardens of the Bosphorus, but it is not a native, nor is it described b y th e
TcrehhUhus, known and described by Dioscorides, Theophrastus, and Pliny. Gnat-like
insects breed in th e leaves, th e cuticles of which, by being punctured, become fungous, and swell mto
fleshy follicles, of a bright scarlet hue, strong resinous odour, and clammy feel, full of turpentine.
“ These are so abundant, sometimes, as lo cover tiie whole surface of the tree, and give it th e appearance
of bearing rich flowers or fruit. The tru n k of tiie tree, when perforated, yields abundantly th a t line
resinous oil called Cyprus turpentine. For its aromatic quality, tlie Greeks and Armenians pl.int the
tree in th e ir cemeteries, as they do the cypress. Here th e Turks make them biitts to discharge their
topeks or pistols a t : thé stems? therefore,‘are all perforated, and continually, iu the season, stream with
turpentine. T h ere is one in th e British palace garden, which has been noticed, by feestmi and others,
for its sizeand remarkable beauty : it measures twelve feet in circumference, rises nearly i;s high as the
top o fth e palace, and shades a circle of one hundred and eighty yards. Notwithstanding their size, thej
are sometimes epiphytical, growing out of other trees. A phenomenon of this kind exists a t the pro-
...e sometimes epiphytical, growing o • » out of a more enormous cypress ; and
m o n to ry o f C h a lc ed o n , w h e re an en o rm o u s p is ta c ia is g row in g o u t re. -----------. .
this is noticed by Andreossi in his work on the Bosphorus. They grow every where among th e rum
of the walls of Constantinople, particularly in th e breach where the Tu rk s entered, marking, as
C la rk e says, “ th e sp o t w h e re t h e la s t o f th e P a lfcologi fe ll.” - • 4.1 • , j
VistHcia 'LentHscus; common in the days of Theophrastus and Dioscorides, as a t prcsenft in the island
of Scio, and producing then, as now, great abundance of th e transparent gum called mastic. It is much
used by T u rk is h w omen to p re s e rv e th e ir te e th a n d im p ro v e th e ir b r e a th .
Sm'dax dsvera and excblsa ; described by Theophrastus; common in th e woods and^ hills of the
Bosphorus; and the roots are used in decoctions as a substitute for sarsaparilla. S. excelsa climbs to
the ton of the highest trees, and, descending in streaming branches, forms a lofty green wall by the road
side which looks curious ; and, when covered with a profusion of rich red berries, in autumn, is very
beautiful It is well adapted for forming arbours.” „ . , . ,
Vriirius Cerasus, two varieties. “ The first of these varieties is a cherry of enormous size, which
grows along the northern coast of Asia Minor, from whence the original cherry was brought to
It is cultivated in gardens, always as a standard, and by a graft. The gardens there consist wholly of
cherry trees, and each garden occupies several acres of ground. _ You are permitted to enter these, and
e at as much fruit as you please, without paym en t; but, if you wish to take any with you, you pay ten
n a ris Tn oke about a halfpenny per pound. T h e second variety is an amber-coloured transparent
cherry of a delicious flavour. It grows in the woods, in th e interior of Asia Minor, particulaily on the
banks of th e Sakari, the ancient Sangarius. T h e trees attain a gigantic size ; they are ascended by
perpendicular ladders, suspended from th e lowest branches. I measured the tru n k ot one: the circumference
was five fe e t; and the height, where the first branches issued, forty fe e t; th e summit of the
highest branch was from 90 to 100 fe e t; and this immense tree was loaded with iruiL . ^
Vhce'nix dactylifera. “ A fruit-bearing branch of this tree was sent to me from Damietta, in Egypt,
as a kind whicfi is rare, and highly prized. The fruit was not ripe ; but I was directed to cover the end
of the branch with a piece of bladder, and hang the branch against the wa ll: the fruit, by this process,
. .. . . . -1 ___ _ _ l..re„re relr... ..-..1 .. rt'.TTraiH. ”
gradually ripened, was of a large size and a good flavour. , , ,
Vmtanus orienthis. “ The Turks, on the birth of a son, plant a platanus ; as they do a cypr.■
ess on
the death of one_._one.
In the court of the seraglio is a venerable tree of this species, /k r ion u-'’ says,
' '
was was plant
planted by Mahomet II. after the taking of Constantinople, to commemorate the b irth of his son,
S j a z e t II., the tru n k of which is fifty feet in circumference. There is another, of more enormous size,
at Bajazetfti.^Buyuk-derc, on the Bosphorus; it stands T,!'':in a r‘; valley,Y iw ' a and n d measures measures /forty-orty-scven seven yards yards in m circum-
nronm-
ference ! It, in fa d , now consists of fourteen large branches,
some of which issue from below the present
suVfoce./vl’iieotheVsdonotdivM^ they are seven or eight feet above it. One of these tree-like
branches has been hollowed out by tire, and affords a cabin for sheltering a husbandman. 5
npwlcnrpKt Constantinovle.) “ The Turks sometimes encamp here ; and the Ben Bashce pitches his
S s irthT c eS T T ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ of trees. T h e immense size to which the platanus attains has been the
wonder of antiquity: Pliny describes several, in one of which Lucinius Mucianus gave a supper to a
a /d shrubs may be mentioned: C isim crispm, c r ttim s, and salvifdKus, “ which
coVer a il the hills in th e islands ot the ■'Archipelago and Sea of Marmora : they arc gumm.terous : and
in June and July, secrete copiously a very fragrant gum which adheres to the goats beards thirty
on tho nlant. and is combed off, like th e ladanum, for which it is sometimes substitnted Phcy are .ill
>y hypocistis, a succulent parasitic, of a rich red colour, which I found growing from the
distinguished b;
rporfootsk,described by Diescorides.” Voterium spmbsmn ; common among the .ibovcuiamcd thsti, with
ly b ra //iiT sriik e fo r lc l^E n ^ la iid ;''known'to th e aricients, but whether under th e n i ^ e of stoebe
b r poterion is uncertain, \ i t e x A'gnus cdstus ; found on the banks of all the^nvers of Greece and Asia
Minor, along w ith Nèrium Oleander. It was called agnos (lamb) by the_ ancients because carried by
th e priestesses in the feast of Ceres, a lamb being the usual animal sacrificed. tìxwìms M g i lo p ^ ^ c -
cifera, and pubéscens ; common in the islands of the Archipelago. Vinus mardnna and Vmca ; common
in the islands o fth e Sea of Marmora. “ T h e cones of P . Linea are gathered and sold m the markets
When exposeclto the fire, they open, and the seeds, as large as hazel-nuts, then drop o u t , they arc
eaten like nuts and called by th e Turks fistik.” Lavandula Stce'chas; th e latter name by Dioscorides
from th e Stcccliades, now the Hiòres Islands, near Marseilles, from whence it fiftst came. It i | very
difficult to cultivate in a garden. It covers th e hills in all the islands of the Archipelago and Sea of
Marmora. Euónymus eurojm'us var. The arillus is of a rich scarlet, which, when the capsule opens
becomes conspiciious and remarkable. Cdssm sp. ? The leaves are used tor those of ?enna, to w h u h
they have a strong resemblance. lUdera chrysocarpa. Yellow-berried ivy. Dioscorides and 1 liny.
Rare, seeds medicinal. Ri/scws o-acemósus, the alcxandna, or Alexandrian laurel ot Dioscorides,
found in th e islands of the Archipelago. Kcclreutens. pamculàta ; a native of China. A plant i-emam-
ing in what was Sherad’s garden a t Tedikui, about ten miles from Smyrna ; and ,<frtemis?a sp. I retty,
aromatic ; produced spontaneously in gardens, and used m salads.
Among the herbaceous plants are iErtgcron graveolcns. 1 he conyza of P ‘o®®°t‘des , stinking , use^^
against th e bite of all manner of vermin ; found m large patches m th e islands of Marmora Rmm;«
commùnis, called Kroton, and Ricinus, from th e resemblance of th e seeds to the tick insect, which
fastens on dogs’ ears. Seeds taken as pills for a purgative ; abundant on th e rock of G ibraltar, but does
not ripen its seeds on the Bosphorus. Vancràtium maritimum,_ called pancration, or all excelling, by
Dioscorides “ Forskal found it in great abundance in Palestine, and supposes it was th e lily of the
Scripture like to which our Saviour said, Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed. It grows m all
th e fandv’plains of Asia Minor, and is propagated by seed as well as bulbs. I found it among the rums
of Teos and am disposed to th in k it was th e lily of Anacreon.” K-ru inTira cù n ^ lu s. Dioscorides.
Found in th e plains of Brusa. Eerula sp. : eight feet high ; covers th e islands of Marmora like a forest
of young trees ; th e narthex of Dioscorides, and ferula of Pliny. Fhytolacca dccandra ; mteoduced to
Constantinople from America, along with tobacco ; now common in humid situations. The bei ries
H H<-ii Diirnlp iuicG which was formerly used to colour red wme, but is now confined to sherbet
SigTr w i d e / r i m o f a ri?h red colour.” Cypèrus esculènta. . The toberons knobs
r,f f-iiP rnnt« nrp sold in the markets. The manna of the Greeks, abdalassis of th e Turks, and
kunerios of Dioscorides. Centaurea solstitiàlis ; p re tty ; found sparingly on the hills about Constanti-
1 « ^ Tliny. The capsule is a tube, “ without valves, from whence the seeds
ToT, to K r a S bv to that of shot from an air-gun, namely, the expansion of some
S i n ” It is abundant around Constantinople ; used m medicine, as m England,
iTd for iTunffice bv the Turks as it was in th e time of Dioscorides. Solànuin is^/ptiacu7n, so d^w'u?n,
sometimes puSctufed by a species of cynips, which gangrenes th e truit, and converts th e interior into a