BOOK XVII. XXX. 133-136 



every country that has a summer rainfall, but in 

 India and Ethiopia trees are necessarily plantcd later, 

 in autumn. Consequently there are three regular 

 periods for germination, spring and the rise of the 

 Dogstar and that of Arcturus. For in fact not only 

 do animals possess a strong appetite for copulation, 

 but the earth and all vegetable growths have a much 

 greater desire, the indulgence of which at the proper 

 season is of the greatest importance for conception, 

 and pecuUarly so in the case of grafts, as both graft and 

 stock share a mutual eagerness to unite. Those who 

 approve of spring for grafting begin it immediately 

 after the equinox, stating that the buds are just 

 coming out, which faciUtates the joining of the barks ; 

 but those who prefer autumn begin at the rising of 

 Arcturus, because the grafts at once so to speak take 

 root and are prepared when they reach springtime, 

 and do not have their strength taken away immedi- 

 ately bv budding. Some kinds of trees however 

 have a fixed time of year everyAvhere, for instance 

 cherries and almonds, which have to be planted or 

 grafted about midwinter ; but as to the greater 

 number of trees the Ue of the land v.ill make the best 

 decision, as cold and damp lands must be planted in 

 spring, but dry and warm sites in autumn. The 

 svstem general in Italy at all events assigns the 

 times for planting in the foUowing manner : for a 

 mulberry from February 13 to the spring equinox ; 

 for a pear the autumn, providcd it is not less than a 

 fortnight before the shortest day ; for summer apples 

 and quinces, and also sorbs and plums, from mid- 

 wintcr to February 13; for the Greek carob and for 

 peaches, right through autumn tiU midwinter ; for 

 the nuts, walnut and pine-cone and hazel and almond 



95 



