ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, VIII. v. 4 -vi. 2 



is clear both from what is said now and from what 

 was said before. Enough then about the points of 

 difference. 



Of sowing, manuring, and watering. 



VI. It is expedient to sow all these, if possible, at 

 the early seed-time ; however some plant the seed 

 even in dry ground, and especially wheat and barley, 

 on the theory that they are most likely to hold 

 their own 1 at a time when the ground is not in- 

 fested 2 with birds or other creatures. For it 

 appears that in general the first sowing is better, 

 and worst that which is made in half- soaked 

 ground ; 3 for then the seeds perish and become 

 ' milky ' ; 4 moreover many weeds come up at that 

 time. After the sowing however it is beneficial 

 for all that rain should fall on them, except in 

 the case of some which appear to germinate then 

 with more difficulty, as seems 5 to be the case with 

 beans, and among summer crops with sesame cummin 

 and crysimon. 



6 As to sowing thickly or scantily one should have 

 regard to the soil as well as to other considerations ; 

 for a fat good soil can bear more than one which is 

 sandy and light. However there is a saying that the 

 same soil can take at one time more, at another less 

 seed ; and in general the former condition is taken 

 as an unfavourable omen, for then they say at once 

 that the soil is hungry ; however this is perhaps a 

 rather foolish saying. If a man should have regard 

 to the kind of the seed and especially to the actual 

 situation, considering the aspect in respect of winds 



4 cf. yaXdKTwffis, C. P. 4. 4. 7 and 8. 



5 So/mconj.W.; ttcfaet Aid. Plin. 18. 190. 



177 



VOL. II, N 



