ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, II. v. 6-vi. i 



in planting the pomegranate myrtle or bay, one 

 should set two trees close together, not further 

 than nine feet apart, apples a little further, j)ears and 

 wild pears still further, almonds and figs further still, 

 and in like manner the olive. ^ Again the distance 

 apart must be regulated by the nature of the ground, 

 being less - in hilly parts than in low ground. 



Most important of all, one may say. is it to assign 

 to each the suitable soil ; for then is the tree most 

 vigorous. Speaking generally, they say that low 

 ground is most suitable for the olive fig and vine, 

 and the lower slopes of hills for fruit trees.^ Nor 

 should one fail to note what soil suits each variety 

 even of those closely related. There is the greatest 

 difference, one may say, between the different kinds of 

 vine : for they say that there are as many kinds of vine 

 as there are of soil. If they are planted as their 

 nature requires, they turn out well, if otherwise, they 

 are unfruitful. And these remarks apply almost 

 equally to all trees. 



Of the propagation of the date-palm ; of palm* in general. 



VI. ■* The method of proj;»agating date-palms is 

 peculiar and exceptional, as also is their subsequent 

 cultivation. They plant several seeds together, 

 putting two below and two above, which are fastened 

 on ; but all face downwards.^ For germination starts 

 not, as some say, from the ' reverse ' or hollow side,^ 

 but from the part ' which is uppermost ; wherefore 

 in joining on the seeds which are placed above one 

 must not cover up the points from which the growth 



« Plin. 13. 32. 



'" i.e. with the grooved side downwards. 



^ i.e. the grooved side. " i.e. the round side. 



133 



