BOOK XVI. Liii. I22-LIV. 125 



branching is nearly vertical and the boughs project 

 upward towards tlie sky, and do not slope down 

 sideways. It is a remarkable thing that tliis tree 

 dies if the tops of the branches are lopped, but survives 

 if they are cut oif entirely from the trunk ; also should 

 the trunk be cut off below where the branches were, 

 what remains lives, whereas if only the top be re- 

 moved the whole tree dies. Some trees branch out 

 from the root up, like the elm, others throw out boughs 

 only at the top, hke the pine and the Greek bean- 

 tree, Avhich at Rome tliey call the lotus " because of 

 the sweetness of its fruit, which although growing 

 wild almost resembles cherries. The exuberance of 

 its branches makes it specially in request for houses, 

 as they grow on a short main stem and spread out 

 with a very wide expanse of shade, often leaping 

 across to the neighbouring mansions. No shady 

 fohage is more short-Uved, and the branches do not 

 take away the sun, their leaves falUng in winter. 

 No trees have bark that is more agreeable or attrac- 

 tive to look at, and none have branches that are 

 longer and stouter or more numerous, so that they 

 might be described as being themselves so many 

 trees. Their bark serves for staining hides and their 

 root for dyeing w'ool. Apple trees have branches of 

 a pecuUar kind, resembUng the muzzles of wild 

 animals, several smaller boughs being attached to one 

 very large one. 



LIV. Some branches are without eyes and do not VarieHes o/ 

 form buds, this being a natural consequence of their ^"'"''^*- 

 not having fuUy developed, or else a penalty when a 

 scar inflicted in pruning has blunted their powers. 

 In a vine the eye and in a reed the joint contain the 

 same nature that trees which spread out have in their 



469 



