182 EFFECTS OF FOREST VEGETATION ON CLIMATE. 



two thousand years ago no cherry ripened ; but on the other 

 hand, these lands where the dense population of the Jews was 

 nourished by a fruitful culture, are in the present day half 

 deserts. The cultiyation of clover, requiring a moist atmosphere, 

 has passed from Greece to Italy, from thence to Soiithern 

 Grermany, and already is beginning to fly from the continually 

 drier summers there, to be confined to the moister north. Kivers 

 which formerly scattered their blessings with equal fulness 

 throughout the whole year, now leave the dry and thirsty bed to 

 split and gape in summer, while in spring they suddenly pour 

 out the masses of snow accumulated in winter over the dwelling- 

 places of affrighted men. 



" If the continued clearing and destruction of forests is at 

 first followed by greater warmth, more southern climate, and 

 more luxuriant thriving of the more delicate plants, yet it draws 

 close behind this desirable condition another which restrains the 

 habitability of a region within as narrow as, and perhaps even 

 narrower limits than, before. In Egypt, no Pythagoras need 

 now forbid his scholars to live upon beans {Nelum'hium speciosum) ; 

 long has that land been incapable of producing them. The mne 

 of Mendes and Mareotis, which inspired the guests of Cleopatra, 

 vfhich was celebrated even by Horace, grows no more. No 

 assassin now finds the holy pine-grove of Poseidon in which to 

 hide and lie in ambush for the singers hastening to the feast. 

 The pine has long since retired before the invading desert 

 climate to the heights of the Arcadian mxountains. Where are 

 the pastures now% w^here the fields around the holy citadel of 

 Dardanus, at the foot of the richly-watered Ida, suj^ported 

 3,000 mares ? * Who can talk now of the ' Zanthus with its 

 hurrying waves ' ? AVho would understand now the ' Argos, 

 feeder of horses ' ? " 



After this burst of eloquence Schleiden quotes the thoughts 

 of the venerable Elias Eries of Lund, and adds — " A broad band 

 of waste land follows gradually the steps of civilization. If it 

 expands, its centre and its cradle dies, and on the outer borders 

 only do we find green shoots. But it is not impossible, only 

 difficult for man, without renouncing the advantage of culture 

 itself, one day to make reparation for the injury he has inflicted; 

 he is the appointed lord of creation." 



* * . # ^ # 



" Before him lay original Nature in her wild and sublime beauty. 

 Behind him he leaves a desert, a deformed and ruined land ; for 

 childish desire of destruction, or thoughtless squandering of 



* " Three thousand mares liis spacious pastures bred j 

 Tliree thousand foals beside their mother fed." 



• — Pope's Homer, xx., 2G2. 



