466 plint's satueal histoey. [Book XVII. 



shake even towers and walls ! Such is the might, such is the 

 power that is displayed by Nature. But, a marvel that tran- 

 scends all the rest, is the fact of a vegetable receiving its birth 

 from a tear-like drop, as we shall have occasion to mention 47 in 

 the appropriate place. 



To resume, however : the tiny balls which contain the seed 

 are collected from the female cypress — for the male, as I have 

 already 48 stated, is barren. This is done in the months which 

 J have previously 49 mentioned, and they are then dried in the 

 sun, upon which they soon burst, and the seed drops out, 

 a substance of which the ants are remarkably fond ; this fact, 

 too, only serves to enhance the marvel, when we reflect that 

 an insect so minute is able to destroy the first germ of a tree 

 of such gigantic dimensions. The seed is sown in the month 

 of April, the ground being first levelled with rollers, or else 

 by means of rammers ; 50 after which the seed is thickly sown, 

 and earth is spread upon it with a sieve, about a thumb deep. 

 If laid beneath a considerable weight, the seed is unable to 

 spring up, and is consequently thrown back again into the 

 earth; for which reason it is often trodden only into the 

 ground. It is then lightly watered after sunset every three 

 days, that it may gradually imbibe the moisture until such 

 time as it appears above ground. The young trees are trans- 

 planted at the end of a year, when about three-quarters of a 

 foot in length, due care being taken to watch for a clear day 

 with no wind, such being the best suited for the process of 

 transplanting. It is a singular thing, but still it is a fact, that 

 if, on the day of transplanting, and only that day, there is the 

 slightest drop of rain or the least breeze stirring, it is attended 

 with danger 51 to the young trees ; while for the future they 

 are quite safe from peril, though at the same time they 

 have a great aversion to all humidity. 52 The jujube-tree 53 is 



47 B. xix. c. 48, and B. xx, c. 11. As Fee remarks, this is a fabulous 

 assertion, which may still be based upon truth ; as in gum-resin, for in- 

 stance, we find occasionally the seeds of the parent tree accidentally enclosed 

 in the tear-like drops. 



48 In B. xvi. c. 47. 49 In c. 11 of this Book. 



so c< Volgiolis." This word is found nowhere else, and the reading is 

 doubtful. 51 This is, at least, an exaggeration. 



62 See B. xvi. c. 31, and c. 60. 



53 It is propagated at the present day both from seed and suckers, but 

 mostly from the latter, as the seed does not germinate for two years. 



