40 ALOES. 



over the end of the flower. The form, the color and position 

 are accurately given in the representation. 



Though the aloe is referred to five times in Scripture, it is 

 one of those rare plants introduced into the Holy Land from 

 Arabia, or, more properly, from the island of Socotra, or some 

 adjoining country where alone it is found to be indigenous. 

 Hence the name Aloe Socotrina. The taste which Solomon 

 exhibited for flowers, and the fact that soon after his accession 

 to the throne he displayed so extensive an acquaintance with 

 the botany of Palestine and Syria, make it probable that 

 before he was king he added to the varieties of flowers in the 

 land and encouraged their introduction by others. 



The aloe was a favorite plant with Solomon, and is spoken of 

 by him in a manner which leads us to suppose that he thought 

 it a choice plant. &quot; Myrrh and aloes&quot; he classes with &quot; the 

 chief spices.&quot; (Cant. iv. 14.) Myrrh was from a rare tree in 

 Arabia, as were other gums mentioned in the same connection. 

 During the days of Solomon, the rarest plants and in the 

 greatest number were cherished in Palestine. He planted 

 &quot;orchards and gardens,&quot; and gathered trees of all kinds of 

 fruits. Eccles. ii. 5. 



At the present time, this variety of aloe is universally 

 acknowledged to be the most beautiful and fragrant, and fur 

 nishes the purest and richest gum of the world. The island 

 of its origin is directly east of the Strait of Babel-mandel, and 

 about three hundred miles from the southern coast of Arabia, 

 on the direct course from the Red Sea to India; and the 

 existence of the plant or the gum in Palestine may well 



