BOOK XVI. VIII. 24-ix. 27 



except swine, and not even these if they can get 

 any other fodder. An additional reason among others 

 for its being disregarded for religious ccremonies is 

 that its charcoal goes out during the course of a 

 sacrifice. 



Beech-mast fed to pigs livens them up, and makes Acomsand 

 their flesh easy to cook and light and digestible ; J^JJ^" 

 whereas the acorns of the hohii-oak make a pig thin, 

 not " glossy, meagre. Acorns from the common 

 oak make it lieavy and hmipish, being themselves 

 also the largest of nuts and the sweetest in flavour. 

 According to Nigidius's account the next best to 

 the common acorn is the acorn of the Turkey oak, 

 and no other kind gives the pig more soh*d flesh, 

 though hard. He says that holm-oak acorn is a 

 trying feed for pigs, unless given to them in small 

 quantities at a time ; and that this is the latest acorn 

 to falh He adds that the acorn of the winter oak, 

 hard-oak and cork-tree make a pig's flesh spongy. 



IX. AU the acorn-bearing trees produce oak-apples Oak gaiis. 

 as well, and acorns in alternate years, but the 

 hemeris bears the best oak-apple and the one most 

 suitable for dressing hides. The oak-apple of the 

 broad-leaved oak resembles it, but is lighter in 

 weight and much less highly approved. This tree 

 also produces the black oak-apple — for there are 

 two varieties, this last being more useful for dyeing 

 wool. The oak-apple begins to grow when the 

 sun is leaving the sign of the Twins,* and always 

 bursts forth full-size in a night. The Hghter- 

 coloured variety grows in a single day, and if it en- 

 counters a spell of heat it dries up at once and does 

 not attain its proper growth, that is, to have a kernel 

 the size of a bean. The black oak-apple stays fresh 



405 



