ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, IX. 11. 5-6 



The people of Mount Ida distinguish different 

 kinds of fir, calling one ( that of Mount Ida ' (Corsican 

 pine), another the ' fir of the seashore/ (Aleppo pine); 

 1 and they say that the pitch obtained from the former 

 is more abundant blacker sweeter and generally 

 more fragrant 2 in the raw state, but that boiling 

 down reduces the amount ; for that it contains a 

 larger proportion of watery matter, wherefore it 

 is less substantial ; but that derived from the ' fir 

 of the seashore ' is browner and thicker in the 

 raw state, so that the amount is less reduced by 

 boiling down ; that the ' fir of Mount Ida ' how- 

 ever contains more resinous wood. And, speaking 

 generally, they say that from an equal amount of 

 resinous wood more pitch is obtained and in a more 

 liquid state in wet weather than during a drought, 

 and from a wintry and shady position than from one 

 that is sunny and enjoys fair weather. Such is 

 the account given by the peoples of Mount Ida and 

 of Macedonia respectively. 



3 The holes for the pitch fill up, so that the pitch 

 can be again removed/ in good firs in a year, in those 

 of more moderate quality in two years, in poor trees 

 in three. The filling-up is composed of the pitch ; 

 it is not caused by closing up of the wood ; for the 

 wood cannot close up and become one again, but the 

 effect which takes the time mentioned is due to the 

 formation of the pitch. 5 However it is clearly in- 

 evitable that there should be some new growth of 

 the wood too, seeing that the resinous wood is 



4 fl-aipe'iv conj. Sch. ; tl-aipfiv Ald.H. 



5 So W. explains aAAa . . . TTITTTJS. Or perhaps (as Sch.), 

 ' however this is the interval which must elapse before the 

 pitch can be worked again.' 



227 

 Q 2 



