HISTOHY OF BOTANY, 



CHAPTEK I. 



FEOM THE EARLIEST TIMES TO THE CHRISTIAN 



ERA. 



§ 1. Early Eastern Botany. 



We know very little about the early history of Botany 

 in the east, beyond the fact that in the most ancient writings 

 plants are frequently alluded to, and as they are necessary 

 to man's existence we must suppose that he had always 

 some knowledge of those which happened to grow in his 

 neighbourhood. 



A great number of plants are mentioned throughout the 

 Bible, many of which can still be determined with tolerable 

 certainty, but there are many others about which there is 

 great doubt. We may be sure that at a very early period 

 there was considerable knowledge of plants and their uses 

 among the Hebrews, for we are given to understand that 

 Solomon wrote a comprehensive treatise on them, "from 

 the cedar tree that is in Lebanon, even unto the hyssop 

 that springeth out of the wall."* Josephus adds "for he 

 was not unacquainted with any of their natures, nor omitted 



'•'- 1 Kings iv, 



