ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IV. xiv. 9-10 



1 In Miletus the vines at the time of flowering are 

 eaten by caterpillars, some of which devour the 

 flowers, others, a different kind, the leaves ; and they 

 strip the tree ; these appear if there is a south wind 

 and sunny weather ; if the heat overtakes them, the 

 trees split. 



About Taras 2 the olives always shew much fruit, 

 but most of it perishes at the time when the blossom 

 falls. 3 Such are the drawbacks special to par- 

 ticular regions. 



4 There is also another disease incident to the 

 olive, which is called cobweb ; 5 for this forms 6 

 on the tree and destroys the fruit. Certain hot 7 

 winds also scorch both olive vine-cluster and other 

 fruits. And the fruits of some get worm-eaten, 8 as 

 olive pear apple medlar pomegranate. Now the 

 worm which infests the olive, if it appears below the 

 skin, destroys the fruit; but if it devours the stone it 

 is beneficial. And it is prevented from appearing 

 under the skin if there is rain after 9 the rising of 

 Arcturus. Worms also occur in the fruit which 

 ripens on the tree, and these are more harmful as 

 affecting the yield of oil. Indeed these worms seem 

 to be altogether rotten ; wherefore the}^ appear when 

 there is a south wind and particularly in damp 

 places. The knips also occurs in certain trees, as 

 the oak and fig, and it appears that it forms from the 

 moisture which collects under the bark, which is 

 sweet to the taste. Worms also occur 11 in some 



6 (pvfTai Aid.; f/*<pveTai conj. Sell, from G. P. I.e., but the 

 text is perhaps defective. 



7 cf. G.P. 5. 10. 5. 8 cf. C.P. 5. 10. 1. 



9 eV conj. Sch., cf. G.P. 5. 10. 1 ; fa' U; a*' Ald.H. 



10 cf. 2. 8. 3. 



11 The subject of ylvovrai is probably (r/cwATj/ces, not 



399 



