M‘Sweeny, on the Climate of Ireland. 183 
A large work has been written by M. Schow, professor of Botany in the University 
of Copenhagen, which treats of the climate of the earth during the existence of man 
on its surface; it treats of the climate of the antediluvian world, as far as can be 
ascertained by fossils. 
A paper by Professor Schow on the supposed changes in the meteorological con- 
stitution of the different parts of the earth, during the historical period, was read 
before the Royal Society of Copenhagen, and has been translated and published in 
the Sth volume of Brewster’s Edinburgh Journal of Science. He investigates the 
accounts given by the ancients, of animals and plants in different countries. He ob- 
serves that the most rigorous criticism is required in such an inquiry, that persons 
should not be led into error, as the ancients are not very careful in their description 
of plants and animals, and matters considered essential in determining the species, 
were unknown to them ; besides, their descriptions are not free from fabulous admix- 
tures. He remarks that great caution must be observed in drawing conclusions as to 
climate, from animals and plants ; for instance, it is not a higher temperature which 
has driven the beaver from the greater part of Europe, and which in North America 
compels it, more and more, to retire into the interior, but an increasing population. 
With respect to the cultivation of plants, it is not enough to know that a plant was 
not cultivated by the ancients, but it should be ascertained that they attempted its 
cultivation in vain. 
With regard to the freezing of the sea, a great difference must be made between 
that which is usual, and that which is extraordinary ; and great allowance must be 
made for the weakness of human memory, which recollects much better the remark- 
able exceptions than the general rule of things. 
He begins the investigation with Palestine, on the authority of the Bible, and 
treats of the existence of the date tree, and of the vine, about which there can be no 
question in ancient or modern times. The date tree was abundant, and principally 
in the southern part of the country. 
Jerico was noted for palm trees; the people had palm branches in their hands, 
Pliny mentions the palm tree as abounding in Judea. ‘Tacitus and Josephus, speak 
of woods of palm, as well as Strabo, Diodorus Siculus, and Theophrastus.— 
Among the Hebrew coins, those with date trees are by no means rare, and the tree is 
recognised as it is figured with its fruit. The vine was one of the plants most cul- 
tivated in Palestine. In many places vineyards and wine are spoken of. Strabo and 
Diodorus speak of the cultivation of the vine in Palestine. Both dates and grapes, 
together, are symbols on Hebrew coins. 
Professor Schow, argues—that as the date tree, in order to bring its fruit to per- 
fection, required a mean temperature of 21° centigrade, that the country about Je- 
rusalem could not have a lower mean temperature than 21° centigrade. 
He observes, that in Barbary the vine succeeds only on the coast, and even there, 
