PLANTS OF THE BIBLE. 113 



The various seasons of the year are also indicated in many different 

 points of the Gospels by similar indirect references. 



These will be found very useful in the construction of a reliable 

 harmony of the Gospels. 



Mr. Sidney Collett : The Lecturer said that the general appear- 

 ance of the land west of Jordan had greatly changed during the 

 last few years, but the land east of it had remained unchanged. 

 Perhaps in his answers he would tell us why this is. 



Dr. Rendle : I am very grateful, Mr. Chairman, to you and 

 to my audience for the very kind way in which you have received 

 the remarks which I have been able to make this afternoon on the 

 Plants of the Bible. As I have said, I am afraid one could have 

 spoken at very much greater length, and perhaps in being brief 

 I may not have been quite clear. I think I will answer the last 

 question first. My point with reference to fertility on one side of 

 the Jordan as compared with the other was that on the west there 

 was originally forest, but when it gave place in cultivation to Vine- 

 yards and Olive yards, that meant a destruction of the trees, which 

 were replaced by terrace cultivation. If you do not keep up those 

 terraces the walls fall, and then, as the heavy rain comes you get 

 the bare rock. On the other side of the Jordan the population 

 has not been so dense and the trees have not disappeared, whereas 

 in the first case you have driven nature out and supplied artificial 

 cultivation. Then, if these terraces are not kept up, there is no soil 

 left for the trees to grow again. In course of time the trees may 

 grow again, but that will be many years hence. 



As regards the Lilies, I remember in my early days we had a 

 picture, the unveiling of the Lilies ; and Christ was pointing to 

 Madonna Lilies, but personally I do not think that is what was 

 meant by " Consider the lilies." You get a wonderful mass of colour 

 with the Anemones, and I should have thought that it was the 

 general mass of flowers which was referred to in that case. The 

 Lily is mentioned in the Old Testament, and the word there is quite 

 an indefinite term. 



Then the Chairman mentioned the Prickly Pear. This is 

 a new world product, and was not known in our Lord's time. 



Then as regards the Palm. No doubt under favourable conditions 



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