BOOK XVII. xiv. 72-74 



them scarcely perceptible, and \\e mnst not fail to 

 remark on Nature's miracle of producing trees from so 

 small a seed when a grain of wheat or barley is so much 

 larger, not to reckon a bcan. WTiat resemblance have 

 apple seeds and pear seeds to their source of origin ? 

 To think that from these beginnings is born the 

 tiraber that contemptuously rebuffs the axe, presses 

 that are not overcome by immense weights, masts for 

 sails, battering rams for demolishing towers and walls ! 

 Such is the force and such the potency of Nature. But 

 the crowning marvel will be that there is something 

 that derives its origin from a tear-drop, as we shall xix. I62, 

 mention in the proper place. ^-^^- -■*• 



Well then, in the months that we have specified, the § eo. 

 tinv seed-balls are gathered from the female cypress — - 

 for the male tree, as we have said, is barren — and ai'e xvi. 211. 

 put to dry in the sun ; and they burst open and emit 

 their secd, which has a remarkable attraction for ants. 

 a fact that actually increases the marvel, for the germ 

 of such huge trees to be consumed for the food of such 

 a small animal ! The seed is sown in April, after the 

 earth has been levelled by means of rollers or ram- 

 mers ; it is scattered thickly and a layer of earth a 

 thumb deep is sprinkled upon it from sieves : it is not 

 strong enough to rise up against a greater weight, 

 and it t^nsts back under the ground ; on this account 

 another method is merely to tread it into the earth. 

 Every three days it is given a light watering, after 

 sunset so as to soak in the moisture even, until 

 the plants break out from the earth. They are 

 transplanted after a year, when the seedHng is nine 

 inches long, regard being paid to the weather so 

 that they may be planted under a bright sky and 

 when there is no wind. And wonderful to say, on 



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