ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. i. 4-11. i 



together grow and increase more in height, and so 

 become unbranched straight and erect, and the best 

 oar-spars l are made from these, while those that 

 grow far apart 2 are of greater bulk and denser 

 habit 3 ; wherefore they grow less straight and with 

 more branches, and in general have harder wood and 

 a closer grain. 



Such trees exhibit nearly the same differences, 

 whether the position be shady or sunny, windless or 

 windy ; for trees growing in a sunny or windy 

 position are more branched shorter and less straight. 

 Further that each tree seeks an appropriate position 

 and climate is plain from the fact that some districts 

 bear some trees but not others ; (the latter do not 

 grow there of their own accord, nor can they easily 

 be made to grow), and that, even if they obtain a 

 hold, they do not bear fruit as was said 4 of the 

 date-palm the sycamore and others ; for there are 

 many trees which in many places either do not grow 

 at all, or, 5 if they do, do not thrive nor bear fruit, 

 but are in general of inferior quality. And perhaps 

 we should discuss this matter, so far as our enquiries 

 go. 



Of the trees special to Egypt, and of the carob. 



11. 6 Thus in Egypt there are a number of trees 

 which are peculiar 7 to that country, the sycamore 

 the tree called persea the balanos the acacia and 

 some others. 



Now the sycamore to a certain extent resembles 

 the tree which bears that name 8 in our country ; its 



8 Plin. 13. 56 and 57. 



7 tSia conj. R. Const. ; fvia. Aid. 



* i.e. mulberry. See Index. 



291 



