PRACTICAL ARBORICULTURE 167 
The temple was called by Solomon ‘“‘The house of the forest of Lebanon,” 
because it was chiefly constructed of cedar. Darius, also, in rebuilding the 
temple, sent to the Sidonians for cedar trees from Lebanon. [ezra I1l-7. The 
fame of the Sidonians as timber dealers had thus continued six centuries. 
So long as the mountains retained their forest covering, and forest influ- 
ences prevailed, the clouds were attracted, rains were frequent, and percolat- 
ing through the soft soil burst out in numerous springs to water the fields 
below, while the soil remained fertile, producing food in abundance. As a 
rich agricutural region, the large population well fed, were strong in spirit 
and fully able to protect themselves from incursions of neighboring tribes. 
We may readily trace the gradual change which took place in climatic condi- 
tions as the forests were removed from the mountain slopes all along the 
Mediterranean coast as well as the Libanus and Taurus Mountains, resulting 
in agricultural disturbances, droughts, famines, pestilence and ultimately in total 
barrenness, from cessation of rainfall. Then the dispersion of its people became 
a necessity. As the lands increased in aridity, the soil refused its harvest. 
Judah and Israel were diminished in numbers, impaired in spirit and were 
easily subdued by one after another of the nations which had long desired 
this historic land. 
HISTORIC DROUGHTS. 
Ten hundred and twenty-one B. C., there was a famine in the days of 
David, three years, year after year—-I] Saml. XXI-r. 
Nine hundred and ten years B. C., Menander describes a disastrous fam- 
ine throughout Judea. 
More than a year had passed without rain or dew. This was the same 
drought in which Elijah was fed by the ravens, and when the brook Cherith 
had become dry, increased the supply of the widow’s meal. 
Five hundred and eighty-eight years B. C., another famine occurred, and 
with it pestilence, which greatly reduced the population and power of the 
nation, so that when the Babylonians besieged Jerusalem the stronghold fell, and 
the people were carried away into captivity. 
While the immediate reason for the fall of Jerusalem may have been on 
account of the wars and dissensions among the Jewish tribes; and while 
the idolatry of the rulers and populace is given in scripture as the occasion 
for their punishment, yet the real cause was the decline of agriculture through 
the loss of forest influence, impairing the stamina of the inhabitants and 
resulting in national decadence. 
What is frequently considered miraculous in the Almighty’s direction of 
affairs is in reality His adoption of natural laws to achieve desired results. 
The Persians coming into power B. C., 444, Darius restored Jerusalem, 
and rebuilt the temple, but the country was overrun by various tribal bands, 
agricultural pursuits having been abandoned, and the Jews were ever after 
under foreign dominion. 
Josephus mentions that when Pompey pitched his camp at Jericho, he 
found paim and balsam trees, this fact being of sufficient importance to be 
made of record, since trees had become so scarce in the land. 
