Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1875-12-31
VEGETATION OFPALRsTINE.

H. = r r..
of the material used in the following
sketch of the vegetation of Pales-
( tine. It is probable that in ages
past Western Asia was covered with
forests like those which abound in
other portions of the continent at the
! present day, but before the date of
the Old Testament narratives they
had many of them disappeared,
leaving large tracts of hill and plain
open to the growth of verdure and
the cultivation of food-plants.
Groves still crowned many of the
hill=tops and thick woods clothed
fthe mountain sides in the days of
Solomon but at the BEGINNING of
the Christian era, as now, there was
doubtless scanty supply of wood
in all the country. sHA =
The whole of Western Asia is at
this time nearly destitute of trees,
save those which bear fruits and
those which are planted by the
graves of the dead, or which stand
solitary and are protected for the
sake of their shade. Fuel is SO
scarce that trees which do not fur
nish sustenance for man are every
where cut down to be burned; none
are planted, cared for, and spared in
addition to those mentioned above,
except the poplar, whose tai, straight
trunk makes it precious for house
building. Towns, villages, and
hamlets are always built near some
river, well, or spring, whose waters
will supply the inhabitants for
domestic purposes and the irr cation
of their lands, but streets and houses
are generally without the ornament
and shelter of trees of any kind.
The gardens are usually situated in
the precinct Immediately surround
ing the villages. Outside of these
are the vineyards and fruit-orchards,
and still beyond lie the cultivated
fields, that are barren and desolate
when the crops have been harvested.
The gardens watered by artificial
means are green throughout the year,
affording an endless succession of
products. The most abundant vege-
table is the bean, several varieties of
which are raised to be eaten both
green and dried. Peas of large size
are cultivated, but are used only
when dried. Beets, turnips, carrots,
radishes, okra, eggplant, tomatoes,
squashes, and eabbages are grown
of fine quality Lettuce, parsley,
mint, and herbs are in great favor,
and lentils, which form a nourishing
article of food, are much priced,
especially by the workingman. But
above all other culinary vegetables,
the onion ranks in the esteem of the
Oriental. 1t is eaten raw like the
radish, and, cooked, enters into the
preparation of almost every dish.
Gourds are raised in great quanti-
ties for the sale of their hard shells,
which are made, into bottles, dip
pers,. powder-fasks, and various
domestic utensils. They are even
wrought into musical instruments, a
rude sort of guitar being fashioned
out of them.
In nearly every garden vine has /
a conspicuous place, and is trained
upon q frame resting against the
house, or shading some grassy plot
which is the faEorite resort of the
family, aid where they often take
meals. frequently this chosen spot
contains the reservoir from which
the garden is watered, and often
there is the additional ornament of
Jet orr fountain-for the Oriental
loves the sight of water either at
rest or in motion.
Melons and cucumbers, which are
a refreshing and much-prized fruit in
the hot, dry climate of Palestine,
are cultivated in sandy places either
in fields or in patches, and, like all
other crops, must have irrigation-
The soil where they grow is enrich
ed with a sort of guano obtained
from dsvecotes, which are built for
the purpose, of large size and sub
stantial material, furnishing accom-
mediation for vast numbers of in
mates. As the melons approach
maturity, little booths, rooted and
walled with green, branches, are
put up in fields, and here watch
man sits day and night with his
cruise of water-the beverage of the
Oriental-by his side, keeping guard
over the fruit, which tempts thiev-
ing foxes, jackals, and hares, as well
as human beings.
The vine, native and cultivated
grows in great luxurianee and varie-
ty in Palestine. The land of Judah
is especially celebrated for the size
and excellence of its grapes, its
billy districts being peculiarly suit
ed to their nature. Bunches weigh
ing T2 pounds are not uncommon,
and clusters weighing even 20 pounds
are frequently found. u. Van
Lenhep states that be has seen sin
gle grapes Of. the size of the largest
damask plum, and clusters measur-
ing 16 inches in length, and bearing
above 700 berries each. Occasional
ly many varieties are cultivated in
the same vineyard, but usually these
are limited to three or four kinds.
Grapes form an important article of
diet with The Orientals, and, fresh
or dried, constitute an essential part
of the provisions of the household.
Bread and raisins often furnish the
entire fare for a MONDAY meal.
When eaten fresh, the Oriental con-
sumes the whole grape, having learn
ed from experience that the astring-
ent quality in the seeds and stems
renders the fruit one of the most
wholesome in the world.
The olive-tree ranks with the vine
in the value of its product to the
peoples along the shores of the
Mediterranean. In Western Asia
it is not met with far inland nor, ex-
cept on Mount Herman, at an eleva-
ton above 1000 feet. 1t grows
spontaneously, but in a wild state
its fruit is a small, dry, worthless
berry. The stock must be grated
in order to produce good olives. A
full-sized tree has the height of an
ordinary apple-tree, and its branches,
d;Sooead n, ,Nnreoot o,,unrnafrV form i