ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, II. iv. 4-v. i 



dry up. Most obvious are certain changes in regard 

 to the way in which animals are produced, and such 

 changes run through a series of creatures ^ ; thus a 

 caterpillar changes into a chrysalis, and this in turn 

 into the perfect insect; and the like occurs in a 

 number of other cases. But there is hardly anything 

 abnormal in this, nor is the change in plants, which 

 is the subject of our enquiry, analogous to it. That 

 kind of change occurs in trees and in all woodland 

 plants generally, as was said before, and its effect is 

 that, when a change of the required character occurs 

 in the climatic conditions, a s[X)ntaneous change in 

 the way of growth ensues.^ These instances must 

 suffice for investigation of the ways in which plants 

 are produced or modified. 



Of methods of propagation, xcith notes on cultivation. 



V. Since however methods of cultivation and ten- 

 dance largely contribute, and, before these, methods 

 of planting, and cause great differences, of these too 

 we must speak. 



And first of methods of planting : as to the seasons, 

 we have already stated at what seasons one should 

 ])lant. Further ^ we are told that the plants chosen 

 should be the best possible,^ and should be taken 

 from soil resembling that in which you are going to 

 plant them, or else inferior ^ ; also the holes should 

 \ye dug ^ as long as possible beforehand, and should 

 always be deeper than the original holes, even for 

 those whose roots do not run verj' deep. 



* i.e. the shift should be into better soil, if possible, cf. 

 O.P. 3. 5. 2. 



6 yvpoi/s irpoopvTTtiv conj. R. Const.; -rvpovs ■Kpoaopv-nav 

 \5MNA\A. cf.C.P.3.4.l. 



127 



