spontaneously or from punctures made in the stems, upon which it dries in flakes or masses, and is afterwards collected. Gum tragacanth, which is now known to be produced by several species of Astragalus, is used for many purposes in the arts, especially as a glue, and for stiffening woven fabrics. It is common in the desert, as well as on the high elevations of Lebanon, and in many other parts of Palestine. It belongs

to the pea family, Leguminosa.

In Cant. v., 1, we read, "I have gathered my myrrh with my spice." And in verse 13, "His cheeks are as a bed of spices." Again, in vi., 2, "My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices."

The words "beds of spices," lead us to suppose that Solomon had in his gardens at Etham all kinds of sweet-smelling plants common to Palestine, as also those natives of South Europe, such as lavender, rosemary, sage, thyme, savory, marjoram, &c.

OLIVE TREE (Heb., zait).

"And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf plucked off."-Gen. viii., 11; 2349 B.C. "In like manner thou shalt deal with thy vineyard, and with thy oliveyard."— Exod. xxiii., 11; 1491 B.C. "And thou shalt com

spontaneously or from punctures made in the stems, upon which it dries in flakes or masses, and is afterwards collected. Gum tragacanth, which is now known to be produced by several species of Astragalus, is used for many purposes in the arts, especially as a glue, and for stiffening woven fabrics. It is common in the desert, as well as on the high elevations of Lebanon, and in many other parts of Palestine. It belongs

to the pea family, Leguminosa.

In Cant. v., 1, we read, "I have gathered my myrrh with my spice." And in verse 13, "His cheeks are as a bed of spices." Again, in vi., 2, "My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices."

The words "beds of spices," lead us to suppose that Solomon had in his gardens at Etham all kinds of sweet-smelling plants common to Palestine, as also those natives of South Europe, such as lavender, rosemary, sage, thyme, savory, marjoram, &c.

OLIVE TREE (Heb., zait).

"And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf plucked off.”—Gen. viii., 11; 2349 B.C. "In like manner thou shalt deal with thy vineyard, and with thy oliveyard."- Exod. xxiii., 11; 1491 B.C. "And thou shalt com