Where Would Mediterranean Seeds Grow Abundantly? Part II

In the last post, we discussed the type of soils, temperature, and other natural parts of a Mediterranean Climate where the seeds Lehi brought from the Land of Jerusalem had been grown. It was also discussed that for those seeds to grow, especially abundantly, they would need a similar Mediterranean Climate in the Land of Promise. We also discussed in the last post the

Climate
Temperature
Soil

that makes up a Mediterranean Climate. In this post, we will add Soil Groups, Precipitation, and natural vegetation of such a climate.

Soil Group: This Chilean strip, like Jerusalem, has a brown soil group. This type soil group is found elsewhere only in the Mediterranean area, the southern tips of South Africa and Australia, and in the central United States. Central America has soil in the Laterites group, the same as north, eastern and central South America, the Caribbean Islands, central and southern Africa, Madagascar, the west coast of India, Indochina, and Indonesia. Brown forest soils are found to the south of the Chilean strip, eastern United States, and most of Europe.

Precipitation: The mean annual precipitation of the Chilean strip, like Jerusalem, is 20" to 40", as it is in the northern coast of the Yucatan peninsula. North of the Chilean strip, it drops to less than 10", like the Arabian Peninsula. To the south of the Chilean strip, precipitation climbs to 40" to 60", and even further south to over 80". Central America ranges between 60" and 80" and in some areas, over 80".

Natural Vegetation: This portion of Chile has broadleaf, evergreen trees, Mediterranean scrub, citrus, olive and agave. To the north of this area the vegetation is largely absent and to the south, it is semi-deciduous and needle leaf evergreen trees. Inland vegetation is mostly grassland, savannas, shrubs, deciduous and semi-deciduous plants and trees.

Thus, for seeds “brought from the land of Jerusalem” (1 Nephi 18:24) to grow exceedingly and bring forth an abundant crop, they would have had to have been planted in a like Mediterranean Climate—and there is only one such climate that covers all of these groupings in the entire world outside the Mediterranean area.

And that is Chile, South America, around the 30º south latitude.

So when Nephi speaks of seeds growing exceedingly and providing an abundant harvest, it should be considered that there are very few places, if any outside Chile, South America, where seeds from Jerusalem could grow in 590 B.C. without the aid of modern chemicals and farming methods.

The question is: “Does Mesoamerica fit any of these requirements?” The resounding answer is: “No!”