ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, II. vii. 2-4 



1 All trees require pruning ; for they are improved 

 by removal of the dead wood, which is, as it were, a 

 foreign body, and prevents growth and nourishment. 

 Wherefore when the (tree) - becomes old, they cut 

 off all its boughs : for then the tree breaks afresh. 

 Androtion ^ says that the myrtle and olive need more 

 pruning than any other trees ; for the smaller you 

 leave them, the better they will grow, and they will 

 bear better fruit. But the vine of course needs 

 pruning even more ; for it is in the case of this tree * 

 more necessary for promoting both growth and 

 fruitfulness. However, speaking generally, both 

 this and other kinds of tendance must be suited to 

 the particular natural character in each case. 



Androtion further says that the olive the myrtle 

 and the pomegranate require the most pungent 

 manure and the heaviest watering, as well as the 

 most thorough pruning, for that then they do not 

 get ' softwood ' ^ nor any disease underground ; but 

 when the tree is old, he adds, one should cut off the 

 boughs, and then attend to the stem as though it 

 were a tree just planted. Thus ^ treated they say 

 that the mjTtle and olive are longer lived and 

 verv' robust. These statements might be a subject 



for further enquiry, or, if not all of them, at least what 

 is stated of the 'softwood.' 



Manure does not suit all alike, nor is the same 

 manure equally good for all. Some need it pungent, 

 some less so, some need it quite light. The most 

 pungent is human dung : thus Chartodras ^ says 

 that this is the best, pig-manure being second to it, 

 goat-manure third, fourth that of sheep, fifth that of 



.e. efiFete sap-wood. * ovra> conj. W. ; ol Aid. 



' Name perhaps corrupt. 



147 



