BOOK XVI. XXVI. 67-xxviii. 70 



Othcrs preftr to class this as belonging to a special 

 kind of tree, and give it the Latin name of carpinus. 



XXVII. But a very beautiful feature of the maple 

 is the growth on it called bruscum, and yet much 

 more remarkable the molluscum, both knots, the 

 former veined in a twistier pattern, while the latter 

 is covered witli simpler markings, and if it were 

 hirge enough for tables to be made of it would 

 undoubtedly be preferred to citrus-wood ; but as it 

 is, except for writing-tablets and veneering on 

 couches," it is seldom seen in use. Bruscum is also 

 used for making tables, though they have a darkish 

 colour. A simihir growth is also found on the alder, 

 but it is as far inferior to the others as the alder 

 itself is to the maple. The male maple flowers 

 before the female. It must be added that maples 

 grown in dry places are preferred to those in marshes, 

 as is also tlie case with ash-trees. North of the Alps 

 grows a tree ^ making timber that closely resembles 

 the white ash ; its Greek name is the cluster-tree, 

 as it bears pods containing kernels, which taste Uke 

 a hazel nut, 



XXVIII. But a timber rated in the first rank is Theioz. 

 tliat of the box, which is rarely marked with wrinkles 



and only at the root, the rest of it being smooth ; 

 box-wood is esteemed for a certain toughness and 

 hardness and for its pale colour, while the tree itself 

 is valued in ornamental gardening. There are three 

 kinds : the Gallic box, which is trained to shoot up 

 into conical pillars and attains a rather large height ; 

 the oleaster, which is condemned for all purposes, 

 and which gives out an unpleasant smell ; and a 

 third kind called our native box, a cultivated variety 



* Tiie wild pistachio. 



433 



