8 AGRICULTURAL AND BOTANICAL EXPLORATIONS IN PALESTINE. 



plants which I think should be introduced from Palestine, a part 

 of the Orient which I have made my special study. 



ANALOGY BETWEEN PALESTINE AND CALIFORNIA. 



Palestine is more like the State of California than any other in 

 the Union in everything except size. It lies between longitude 34° 30' 

 and 3G° 30' east, and between latitude 30° 30' and 33° 45' north. It 

 is practically a California reduced to about one-twentieth in size, 

 but markedly similar in general topography, climate, vegetation, and 

 agricultural and economic possibilities. 



GENERAL CONFORMATION OF PALESTINE. 



Like California, Palestine (see fig. 1) is longest from north to 

 south. Like California, too, it has both very high mountains, having 

 an elevation of 9,000 to 10,000 feet, and very deep depressions. The 

 Dead Sea, 1,200 feet below sea level, is the greatest depression known, 

 and, like the Death Valley of California, it is situated in the southern 

 extremity of the country. 



Such formations always give rise to a great diversity of soil and 

 vegetation. Where a very ancient civilization exists, as in Palestine, 

 such formations likewise favor the development of many varieties of 

 cultivated plants and give rise to different methods of cultivation. 



Passing from west to east, we have in Palestine (see fig. 2) the 

 coast zone, extending along the Mediterranean, similar to the littoral 

 region of the Pacific, and the zone of hills and plateaus of the 

 mountains of Judea and Galilee, forming, so to speak, the backbone 

 of the country and being similar to the foothill region of California. 

 Farther east we have the valley of the Jordan, the diversified parts 

 of which are similar in soil, climate, and agricultural possibilities 

 to the San Joaquin, Imperial, and Death valleys. Finally, still 

 farther east are the plateaus of the Trans-Jordan, with their fertile 

 soils of volcanic origin, devoted from time immemorial to pastures 

 / and the cultivation of cereals. They are regarded as the granary of 

 the country and have been famed since Bible times for the abundant 

 herds of Bashan. Extending eastward these plateaus pass into the 

 steppes and, finally, toward the south, form the deserts of Syria and 

 Egypt, 



CLIMATE AND RAINFALL OF PALESTINE. 



In Palestine, just as in California, we have a dry, warm season and 

 a humid and more temperate one. The rainy season extends from 

 October to May, and the dry season from May to October. The rain- 

 fall varies, according to the locality, from less than 6 inches in the 

 extreme south near the Egyptian frontier, where rains are insufficient 

 and uncertain, to more than 40 inches in the north of the country. 



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