( 16 } 



Cedar, the Box and the Lotus. On account of 

 its hardness it was used for the hinges of 

 doors; and before metal became common in 

 statuary, it was selected by the Greeks for 

 the images of their Gods. Three statues of 

 Minerva were preserved in the citadel of 

 Athens , which exemplified the progress of 

 this exquisite art : the first, made of olive 

 wood, and of rude workmanship, was said 

 to have fallen from heaven; the second, of 

 bronze , was consecrated after the victory of 

 Marathon ; the third, of gold and ivory, w as 

 one of the miracles of the age of Pericles. 1 



From its resinous and oleaginous nature, 

 the olive wood is eminently combustible, and 

 burns as well before as after it is dried. The 

 value of its fruit renders this property unim- 

 portant ; but after the severe winter of 1709, 

 which proved fatal to the Olives throughout 

 Languedoc and Provence, the country was 

 warmed for a considerable time with this 

 precious wood. 



The Olive accommodates itself to almost 

 every variety of soil ; but it shuns a redun- 



1 See Barthelemy. 



