3 Descriptive Account OF THE PLANTS, TREES, FLOWERS, AND YEGETABLE PRODUCTS MENTIONED IN HOLY WRIT, WITH REFERENCES TO THE PURPOSES WHICH THE MENTION OF THEM MAY BE INTENDED TO SERVE. BY LEO H. GRINDON, AUTHOR OF "LIFE: ITS NATURE, VARIETIES, AND PHENOMENA,' "THE TREES OF OLD AND OTHER WORKS. London: F. PITMAN, 20 & 21, PATERNOSTER ROW, E.C. 1883. 1083. e. 1. PREFACE. CONSI (ONSIDERABLE portions of the matter constituting this volume appeared some years ago in the Gardeners' Chronicle. Other chapters were originally written for the Intellectual Repository and the University Magazine. The editors of these periodicals kindly approve the republication, and my foremost duty at the present moment is to acknowledge their liberality with sincere thanks. None, however, of the chapters are simply reprinted; all have undergone careful revision, and a large amount of new matter has been introduced. That the subject has been dealt with by other hands goes without the saying. I follow in the wake, though afar, of a phalanx of men distinguished always for their learning, and who usually set noble examples in regard to their piety. This will be plain from the frequent references to Pierre Belon (1553); Levinus Lemnius (1566), his translator, Thomas Newton; Rauwolf (1600); Ursinus (1673); Bochart (1675); Celsius (1748); Hasselquist (1757); Forskähl (1775), and several besides; with many, in addition, of the current age, as Dr. Royle, Dean Stanley, and Canon Tristram. Still, to the friends of Scripture, no apology is needful for a new volume proposing to illustrate any portion of the inspired writings, and to invite enlarged attention to the inexpressible beauty of the references therein to the objects of external nature. Students of Scripture happily are numerous. They are various in taste, and of many forms and degrees of refinement and knowledge. Hence there is much to provide for, every man who essays to help in the good work, doing his best, and in his own way. To some of these enquirers it is hoped that the following pages may be useful; to the rising generation, at all events, the book may serve the purpose of a guide to springs of enjoyment not previously perceived. No one will suppose for a moment that |