THE GEOGRAPHY OF PLANTS. 



still, very abundant in Judaea." The beauty, 

 loveliness, and fragrance of the myrtle, are 

 striking emblems of the moral paradise which 

 is destined to be produced, when the gospel 

 shall be universally diffused and obeyed, and 

 of the dispositions it implants in the hearts of 

 those who yield to its influence. " I will plant 

 in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, 

 and the myrtle, and the oil tree," Isa. 

 xli. 19 ; and again, " Instead of the thorn shall 

 come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier 

 shall come up the myrtle tree : and it shall be 

 to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting 

 sign that shall not be cut off," Isaiah Iv. 13. 

 Among the Arabs the myrtle is considered to 

 rival the violet ; and they have a tradition 

 that " Adam fell down from paradise with 

 three things the myrtle, which is the chief of 

 sweet-scented - flowers in this world ; an ear of 

 wheat, which is the chief of all kinds of 

 food in this world ; and pressed dates, which 

 are the chief of the fruits of this world." 



India possesses a very rich flora, but the 

 names of many of the plants would possess but 

 little interest for those who are unacquainted 

 with botany. Figs, particularly those of the 

 banyan kind, which have already been noticed, 

 form one of the most striking features of 

 its vegetation. The balsam of our green- 

 houses, and the kidney-bean, we have re- 

 ceived from India. The teak tree (or Indian 

 oak) also abounds in India. Its wood is use3 

 in ship-building, and is so durable, that In- 



