ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, VIII. xi. 8-9 



Of certain peculiarities of the seed of lupin and aigilops. 



Some even 1 of those kinds which seem to be 

 more or less wild have peculiarities as to their 

 germination and growth, for instance, lupin and 

 aigilops. For lupin, although it is very robust, 

 unless it is planted immediately after leaving the 

 threshing-floor, 2 turns out of poor growth, as was 

 said, and refuses altogether to be buried in the 

 ground ; 3 wherefore they sow it without first 

 ploughing 4 the land. And often if the seed has 

 fallen amid thick undergrowth or herbage, 5 it 

 thrusts this aside, fastens on to the earth with its 

 root and grows vigorously. It seeks sandy and 

 poor soil for choice, and will not grow at all in 6 

 cultivated 7 soil. 



Aigilops has the opposite character ; it grows 

 better in tilled soil ; and in some places where at 

 first it would not grow, if the ground is tilled, it 

 grows and yields a large crop, and in general it 

 likes good soil. A peculiarity 8 mentioned in regard 

 to it as compared with other cereal seeds is that one 

 seed in two does not germinate for a year. Where- 

 fore those who wish to destroy it entirely, (since 

 it is naturally hard to destroy), leave the fields 

 unsown for two years, and, when it springs up, 

 send in 9 the sheep several times till they have 

 grazed it down, and this is a way of completely 

 destroying it. At the same time this testifies to the 

 fact that the seed does not all germinate at once. 



5 cf. 1. 7. 3 ; Plin. 18. 134. 6 eV conj. W.; TTJ Ald.H. 



7 cf. 8. 11. 2. 8 cf. C. P. 4. 6. 1. 



i conj. Sch., cf. 8. 7. 4; a<t>ir)fft M ; d</>trj(rt P; 

 Aid. 



213 



