ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, III. v. 5-vi. i 



occurs in the autumn after the shedding of tlie 

 leaves, and has from the first a glistening look,' as 

 though swelling had taken place, just as if it were 

 about to burst into leaves ; and it persists through 

 the winter till the spring. The filbert after casting 

 its fruit produces ^ its clustering growth,^ which is 

 as large as a good-sized grub : several * of these grow 

 from one stalk, and some call them catkins. Each 

 of these is made up of small processes arranged 

 like scales, and resembles the cone of the fir, so that 

 its appearance is not unlike that of a young green 

 fir-cone, except that it is longer and almost of the 

 same thickness throughout. This grows through the 

 winter (when spring comes, the scale-like processes 

 open and turn yellow) ; it grows to the length of three 

 fingers, but, when in spring the leaves are shooting, 

 it falls off, and the cup-like ^ fruit-cases of the nut 

 are formed, closed all down *^ the stalk and coire- 

 sponding " in number to the flowers ; and in each ot 

 these is a single nut. The case of the lime and 

 of any other tree that produces winter-buds needs 

 further consideration. 



Of the comparative rate of growth in trees, and of the length oj 

 their roots. 



VI. Some trees are quick-growing, some slow. 

 Quick-growing are those which grow by the waterside, 

 as elm plane abele black poplar willow ; (however 

 some dispute about the last-named, and consider it 

 a slow grower :) and of fruit-bearing trees, silver-fir 

 fir oak. Quickest growing of all are . . .^ yew lakara 



' oaa Kol ?iv TO. iv6ri conj. W.; oira koI Kara ivOri Aid. 

 * Lacuna in text (Sch.W.). The following list of trees also 

 appears to be in confusion, and includes some of both classes. 



191 



