ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, VIII. vi. 5-7 



it destroys the flower. But to pulses it is harmless, 

 except to chick-peas ; for these, if the salt is washed 

 off them, perish from rot x or from being eaten 

 by caterpillars. However the black and the red 2 

 chick-pea are stronger than the white, and it is 

 beneficial, they say, to sow this crop late in moist 

 soil. The bean 3 likes especially to receive rain 

 when it is in flower; wherefore men are unwilling, 

 as we said, to sow it late, because it flowers for a 

 long time ; but after it has shed its flowers, it needs 4 

 very little water, since its time of maturity is now 

 near. But, when cereals have matured, it appears 

 that water actually injures them, and barley more 

 than wheat. 



In Egypt Babylon and Bactra, where the country 

 receives no rain, or 5 but little, the dews are sufficient 

 nourishment ; and so is it also 6 in the regions about 

 Cyrerie and the Euesperides. However to all, 

 generally speaking, it is the spring rains which are 

 the most seasonable ; and that is why Sicily is 

 rich in corn ; for there is abundance of soft rain 

 in spring and little of it in winter. A light soil 

 requires plenty of rain, but little at a time ; while 

 that which is fat can indeed bear both an abundance 

 of rain and a drought ; (for a droughty country sea- 

 winds 7 and breezes seem to be helpful, and various 

 breezes of this kind prevail in various countries, 

 as has been said already). Yet in general drought 

 suits corn better than excessive rain ; for heavy 

 showers, apart from the harm which they do in 

 other ways, often actually destroy the seed, or at 



5 % add. Seal, from G : so Vin. 



6 ert conj. St. from G (?) ; ^rel Aid. 



conj. Sch.; VO.VTO. Aid. cf. 8. 7. 6, 



III 



