The Maccabaean

and semi-arid regions, be they old countries which have already yielded thousands of crops, or new countries of virgin soil. With the same treatments, and all other conditions being the same, the results are alike whether in Palestine or in California, whether in Tunis or in Australia.

Modern agricultural science, born and bred in the humid and temperate parts of Western and Central Europe, has worked out theories which were supposed at first to be universal. They worked well indeed in conditions similar to those under which they were established in the Eastern States of the United States, for instance. But applied indiscriminately in tropical regions or in arid and semi-arid regions, they were found wanting. In other words, these supposedly universal theories were only local ones. Hence local theories had to be worked out for tropical and for arid and semi-arid countries. Leaving out of consideration here the tropical regions, we may say that such theories have been formulated in the last ten or fifteen years, since closer attention has been paid to the traditional methods of the old countries of arid and semi-arid character. It has thus been established that the soil of these old, so-called exhausted countries is just as intrinsically fertile now as it was in the days of their past splendor. But the old and highly developed art of making full use of this soil has either been completely lost, or has been disregarded because it was left in the hands of backward people, from whom the modern agronomist was, at first, too proud to take lessons.

On the other hand, as the first stimulus to scientifically experimental agriculture was given, over a century ago, chiefly by chemists, chemistry has controlled agricultural studies almost exclusively for several decades. The soil was tested in laboratories under conditions artificial and far different from those in the open. First only the mineral food reserves were considered. Later it was found that the organic matters in the soil were of no less importance than the merely mineral ones. That the soil is a microcosm, as it were, in which myriads of different microscopic beings are working with incessant activity—that is a relatively new notion, with which micro-biological science endowed scientific agriculture.

Under the influence of these new observations and ideas a new philosophy of agriculture, as it were, has developed,

chiefly applicable to the arid and semi-arid regions of the world. It embodies the knowledge of the old countries, as represented by what some still term with contempt routine and tradition, but what is in fact the condensed local knowledge gathered during thousands of years; the new mechanical and other progress of new countries like the Western States of the United States, Southwestern Australia, South Africa, etc.; and the latest micro-biological conceptions. These have taught us to appreciate the increased power of the natural factors—moisture, light and warmth—in an arid or semi-arid country as compared with their relatively weak effect in the humid and temperate climates. New methods of ploughing, tilling, etc., have been developed; specially adanted lacal varieties have heen hred and selected.

This new agriculture, which for want of a better term has been called Dry Farming, has revolutionized the technique of farming in arid and semi-arid countries. Thanks to Dry Farming rich harvests are now gathered where only a decade ago very poor yields were usual. New countries have been opened up to grain and fruit culture, which only a little over a decade ago were looked upon as unfit for any paying crop. Compare, for instance, a map of the United States of America of today with one of twenty-five years ago, and see how the area formerly marked "Great Desert," in the Central States, has been reduced by leaps and bounds.

All this progress is due to Dry Farming. Similar results are known from Australia, South Africa, Tunis, etc. At a time when Dry Farming was already firmly established in these countries, where it is so far the only rational method, European agronomists ignored even its name; and newly hatched agronomists of the Central European schools still sneer at it, failing to grasp its fundamental principles.

In all that we have said above we have been dealing with arid and semi-arid conditions. These conditions, due to limited rainfall unequally distributed over the year, are to be found in Palestine. Apart from those few privileged parts where artificial irrigation is possible, Palestine is a country of Dry Farming. In subsequent articles we shall endeavor to show what this country has already achieved in the practice of Dry Farming and what it is capable of. In a special chapter we shall examine the possibilities of irrigation and its results.

1 "Twas said that the glory of Israel was dead, The mighty have fallen, the Shechina has fled; Behold now, the militant soul of the Jew By oppression long fettered yet rising anew!

IIFrom the most distant Ghettoes by destiny flung,They come! Our own heroes, the daring and young,And writ is their aim on our banners unfurled:"For Israel! For Zion! For a free, righteous world!"

III By strong faith encouraged, by loyal hearts blest, To Zion they come now, our bravest and best, All joyously eager to enter the fray, To hasten the coming of freedom’s new day.

IV From Dan to Beer-Sheba, from Jordan to the Sea, O’er snowy-peaked Hermon in loved Galilee, The spirit of heroes of ages gone by Shall guard our brave legion and ever be nigh.

V By hero-blood nurtured through struggle and toil, The fair flower of freedom shall rise from our soil, Its fragrance will sweep over mountain and deep And our world shall awake from its ages long sleep!

VI Cibore Israel! May the blessing of God Enshroud those who fall on our land's sacred sod, And Israel, unshackled, will tenderly keep Most holy each spot where our fallen brave sleep!