BOOK XXI. XVII. 34-xviii. 37 



It is green at the winter solstice, when it is gathered.** 

 It is dried in the shade ; if in winter, so much the 

 better. The root also is fleshy and longer-lived 

 than that of any other plant. SaflTron Hkes to be 

 trodden on and trampled under foot ; destroying it 

 makes it grow better. For this reason it is most 

 luxuriant near foot-paths and fountains. Ah-eady 

 at the time of the Trojan war it was held in high 

 esteem. Homer, at any rate, praises three flowers 

 — lotus, saffron and hyacinth.'' 



XVIII. All spices and also the plants from which spices and 

 they come have different colours, perfunies and z"''"/""^*- 

 juices. It is rare for a thing that smells not to have 

 a bitter taste ; on the contrary sweet substances 

 rarely have any smell ; and so wines have more smell 

 than must, and all wild plants than the cultivated. 

 The smell of some plants is sweeter at a distance, 

 becoming fainter as the distance is lessened ; for 

 instance, that of the violet. A freshly gathered rose 

 smells at a distance, but a faded rose when nearer. 

 AU perfume however is stronger in spring, and in the 

 morning ; as the day draws near to noon it grows 

 weaker. Young plants also have less perfume than 

 old ones ; the strongest perfume however of all 

 plants is given out in middle age. The rose and the 

 saffron have a stronger perfume when they are 

 gathered in fine weather, as have all flowers in 

 warm climates than those in cokl. In Egypt how- 

 ever the flowers have very little perfume, the 

 atmosphere being misty and fuU of dew owing to 

 the wide expanse of river. The scent of some plants 

 is sweet but oppressive. Some, while green, have 

 no smell because of too much moisture, the buceras, 

 for example, which is the same as fenugreek. 



187 



