ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, VII. i. 3-6 



that too, at whichever period it is sown, for some 

 sow it as a ' secondary crop ' at all the periods. 



Generally speaking, those herbs which are sown at 

 more than one season 1 do not mature 2 faster in the 

 summer. Howbeit it is strange if the season and 

 the state of the atmosphere do not contribute at all 

 to quicker growth, and if, when there is an un- 

 favourable cold season and the atmosphere is cloudy, 

 these conditions do not tend to make growth slower, 3 

 seeing that, when stormy or fair weather follows the 

 sowing, germination is slower or quicker accordingly. 

 And there is another thing which makes a difference 

 as to the raising of the various herbs ; germination 

 begins earlier in sunny places which have an even 

 temperature. 



As a matter of fact, to speak roundly, the causes 

 of such differences must be found in several different 

 circumstances, in the seeds themselves, in the ground, 

 in the state of the atmosphere, and in the season at 

 which each is sown, according as it is stormy or fair. 

 However it is a point for consideration with which 

 herbs the time of sowing makes a difference and 

 with which it makes none ; thus it is said that 

 radish germinates on the third day whether it be 

 sown in summer or in winter, while beet, as has been 

 said, behaves differently according to the season. 

 Anyway such are and are said to be the seasons 

 of germination in each case. 



4 Another thing which makes a difference as to the 

 rapidity with which the seeds germinate is their age ; 

 for some herbs come up quicker from fresh seed, as 



trpbs rb PpaSvTfpov conj. Sch. (with /uox^- K. tyvxpa supply 

 T) &pa p). 



4 Plin. 19. 118. Se conj. Seal.; ykp Ald.H. 



63 



