Trees, Shrubs, and Plants of Virgil 



if it be connected with ^ayeiv, refers to the esculent 

 mast. In Greek the name was transferred to the 

 Valonia oak. 



The beech (Fagus silvatica) is native to a trian- 

 gular region of which the points are Cilicia, Spain, 

 and Norway. Theophrastus says that in Latium 

 the beeches were splendid, and from them was 

 named the spur of the Esquiline called Fagutal. 

 Virgil's epithet is well illustrated by the great tree 

 at Knowle with its diameter of over a hundred feet. 



The wood is used for carpentry and carpenter's 

 tools and for bowls and cups. Menalcas prizes the 

 beechen cups carved by Alcimedon, possibly a friend 

 of Virgil, whom he took this occasion to compliment 

 (Ec. iii. 37). When Cowley and Wordsworth speak 

 of the beechen bowl as characteristic of country life, 

 they probably follow Virgil, for in England the 

 maple was mostly used for this work. The fruit 

 or mast of the tree is included under the name of 

 ' glans,' which also covers the fruit of all oaks. The 

 strength of the timber causes Virgil to recommend 

 the use of it for the staff of the plough. Thin planks 

 of it can, however, be bent, and thus it was the 

 usual wood for making the circular bookcases called 

 ' scrinia.' 



Groups of beech-trees were sometimes allowed to 

 stand until the trees were old and as timber worth- 

 less. We may hope that the love of beauty was in 

 part the cause of this uneconomic course, and regret 

 that it now has less force in Italy. Although Virgil 

 habitually blends Sicilian and Cisalpine scenery, it 



44 



