ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, II. vi. 1-3 



is to come ; and these can be recognised by experts. 

 And the reason why they set several together is that 

 a plant that grows from one only is weak. The roots 

 which grow from these seeds become entangled 

 together and so do the first shoots from the very 

 start, so that they combine to make a single stem, 



Such is the method of growing from the fruits. 

 But propagation is also possible from the tree itself, 

 by taking off the topj which contains the 'head.' 1 

 They take off about two cubits' length, and, splitting 

 it, set the moist end. 2 It likes a soil which contains 

 salt 3 ; wherefore, where such soil is not available, 

 the growers sprinkle salt about it ; and this must not 

 be done about the actual roots : one must keep the 

 salt some way off and sprinkle about a gallon. To 

 shew that it seeks such a soil they offer the following 

 proof; wherever date-palms grow abundantly, the 

 soil is salt, 4 both in Babylon, they say, where the tree 

 is indigenous, in Libya in Egypt and in Phoenicia ; 

 while in Coele-Syria, where are 5 most palms, only in 

 three districts, they say, where the soil is salt, are 

 dates produced which can be stored ; those that grow 

 in other districts do not keep, but rot, though when 

 fresh they are sweet and men use 6 them at that 

 stage. 



7 The tree is likewise very fond of irrigation ; as 

 to dung there is a difference of opinion : some say 

 that the date-palm does not like it, but that it is most 

 injurious, others that it gladly accepts 8 it and makes 

 good growth thereby, but plenty of water should be 



4 a\/nw5ett conj. W. ; a/j./nu8eis Ald.H. 



5 ir$y' ol conj. W.; V '\vtoi U; V "Iriot MVAld. 



6 Kara.va\'iffKfiv Aid. ; KaTava\t<TKea6ai conj. W. 

 Plin. 13. 28. 



8 KOI xpv ff & ai conj. Sch.; KexpTJffOai Aid.; ? Ke^dpTfierOai. 



135 



