Chap. 62.] THE IYT. 399 



if the cypress is cut down, it will grow again 97 from the root. 

 But, in the Isle of Crete, in whatever place the earth is moved, 

 this tree will shoot up 98 of its own natural vigour, and imme- 

 diately appear above the soil ; indeed, in that island there is 

 no occasion even to solicit the soil, for it grows spontaneously 

 there, on the mountains of Ida more particularly, and those 

 known as the White Mountains. On the very summit of 

 these elevations, from which the snows never depart, we find 

 the cypress growing in great abundance ; a thing that is truly 

 marvellous — seeing that, in other countries, it will only grow 

 in warm localities ; from which it would appear to have a great 

 dislike to its native climate. 



CHAP. 61. THAT THE EARTH OFTEN BEARS PRODUCTIONS WHICH 



IT HAS NEVER BORNE BEFORE. 



It is not only the quality of the soil and the unchanging 

 influences of the climate that affect the nature of trees, but 

 wet and showery weather also, temporarily at least. Indeed, 

 the torrents very often bring down with them seeds, and some- 

 times we find those of unknown kinds even floating along. 

 This took place in the territory of Cyrenaica, at the period 

 when laser was first grown there, as we shall have occasion to 

 mention when we speak of the nature of the various herbs. 99 

 A forest, too, sprang 1 up in the vicinity of the city of Cyrene, 

 just after a shower of rain, of a dense, pitchy nature, about 

 the year of the City of Rome 430. 



CHAP. 62. (34.) THE IVY — TWENTY VARIETIES OF IT. 



It is said that the ivy now grows in Asia, 2 though Theo- 

 phrastus 5 has denied that such is the fact, ancl asserts that it 

 grows nowhere in India, except upon Mount Meros. 3 * He says, 

 too, that Harpalus used every possible exertion to naturalize 



97 This, Fee says, is the case with none of the coniferous trees. 



98 Of course this spontaneous creation of the cypress is fabulous ; and, 

 indeed, the whole account, which is borrowed from Theophrastus, is greatly 

 exaggerated. 



99 E. adx. c. 15; 



1 This story, which is borrowed from Theophrastus, is evidently fabu- 

 lous. 3 Meaning Asia Minor. 

 a Hist. Plant. B. iii c. 10. 3 * See B. vi. c. 23. 



