Chap. 11.] TEEES WHICH NEVEE DEGENEEATE. 461 



again in germination. Indeed, there are some trees that are 

 capable of being propagated in no other way, the chesnut 19 

 and the walnut, for instance ; with the sole exception, of course, 

 of such as are employed for coppice wood. By this method, 

 too, as well as the others, some trees are propagated, though 

 from a seed of a different nature, such, for instance, as the 

 vine, the apple, and the pear ; 20 the seed being in all these 

 cases in the shape of a pip, and not the fruit itself, as in that of 

 the chesnut and the walnut. The medlar, too, can also be 

 propagated by the agency of seed. All trees, however, that are 

 grown by this method are very slow in coming to maturity, 21 

 degenerate 22 very rapidly, and must often be renewed by graft- 

 ing : indeed, the chesnut even sometimes requires to be grafted. 



CHAP. 1 1 . TEEES WHICH KEVEE DEGENEEATE. 



On the other hand, there are some trees which have the pro- 

 perty of never degenerating, in whatever manner they are re- 

 produced, the cypress, palm, and laurel, 23 for instance : for we 

 find that the laurel is capable of being propagated in several 

 ways. We have already made mention 24 of the various kinds 

 of laurel ; those known as the Augustan, the baccalis, and the 

 tinus 25 are all reproduced in a similar manner. The berries 

 are gathered in the month of January, after they have been 

 dried by the north-east winds which then prevail ; they are 

 then kept 28 separate and exposed to the action of the air, being 

 liable to ferment if left in a heap. After this, they are first 



19 Virgil says, Georgics ii. 14 : 



" Pars autem posito surgunt de semine ; ut altae 

 Castanese, nemorumque Jovi quae maxirae frondet." 



20 This method of reproduction is seldom or never employed ; plants or 

 cuttings only being used for the purpose. 



21 Besides which, it is doubtful if they will reproduce the variety, the 

 seed of which was originally sown. 



22 In some cases, they are more particularly liable to disease — the apple, 

 for instance. 



23 Because the mode of cultivation adopted has little or no influence upon 

 them. The palm, however, to bear good fruit, requires the careful atten- 

 tion of man. It is not capable of being grafted. 



24 In B. xv. c. 39. The laurel may be grown from cuttings or shoots, 

 and from seed. 



25 Known as the Laurus tinus, or Viburnum tinus of Linnaeus. 



26 This is not done at the present day, as it is found that the oil which 

 they contain turns rancid, and prevents germination. 



