ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, V. i. 1-3 



of the silver-fir is of a better colour at the time ^ of 

 the first peeling. 



But since they strip the bark of 2 hardly any trees 

 except silver-fir fir and pine, these trees are cut in 

 the spring ; for then is the time of coming into leaf. 

 Other trees are cut sometimes after wheat-harvest, 

 sometimes after the vintage and the rising of 

 Arcturus, as aria (holm-oak) elm maple manna-ash 

 ~ygia beech lime Valonia oak,^ and in general 

 all those whose timber is for underground use.* 

 The oak is cut latest of all, in early winter at the end 

 of autumn. ^ If it is cut at the time of peeling, it 

 rots almost more quickly than at any other time, 

 whether it has the bark on or not. This is especially 

 so if it is cut during the first peeling, less so during 

 the second, and least during the third. What is cut 

 after the ripening of the fruit remains untouched by 

 worms, even if it has not peeled : however worms get 

 in under the bark and mark the surface of the stem, 

 and such marked pieces of wood some use as seals.*^ 

 Oak-wood if cut in the right season does not rot and 

 is remarkably free from worms, and its texture is 

 hard and close like horn ; for it is like the heart of a 

 tree throughout, except that that of the kind called 

 sea-bark oak is even at that time of poor quality.^ 



Again, if the trees are cut at the time of coming 

 into leaf, the result is the opposite of that which 

 follows when they are cut after fruiting : for in the 

 former case the trunks dry up and the trees do not 

 sprout into leaf,^ whereas after the time of fruiting 

 they sprout at the sides. At this season however 



* ef. At. Thesm. 427 : Opnri)ieara aippayiZia, 

 ' cf. 3. 8. 5. 



* PKoffTavet M ; -wapaBKaardyet W. with Aid. 



419 



