Plfnics N^turall Hifloiie* 



THE XV. B O O K E 



THE HISTORIE OF NATVRE, 



^ WRITTEN BY C. PLINIVS 



SECVNDVS. 



Chap. i. 



^ Tkmtum of Trees that hem Fruits 



Here were no Olive trees grew in Italie^but upon the coaft fide, and that within 

 fortie miles of the lea^ about the 4^0 yeare after the foundation of the citie of 

 Rome 3 if it bee true that Theo^hrajlm (^ii^^ who was one of the moil famous 

 - renowmed Authors among the Greekcs. Fenejlelk writerh moreovcrj 



and affirmcthjThat during the reign of Tarqmnim Prifim (which was much 

 F about the 183 yeerefrom thefoundation of the citie ofRomc) there were no 

 Olive trees at all to be found, cither in Italie^ SpainCjOr Africk \ whereas now at this day they are 

 feene all Italic ovetj yea and bee come as farre as the regions beyond the Alpes^ even into the 

 niids and very heart of Fraunce and Spaine., Indeed, in the yeare after thefoundation of Rome 

 505 (which was when K^^pmCUudim^ the nephew of that great Jfpti^scUudim furnamed 

 The blind, and were Confulstogither) apoiindof theoyle wasfold fortwelve afles: 



and not long after (namely,in the 58 o yeetC) M. Seim the fonne of Lucim (one of the /Ediles- 

 Curule for the time beeing) brought downe the market fo well, that a man might have bought 

 D ten pound for one As ; and at that price he fcrved tbe people of Rome thoughout all that y eere* 

 Leflecaufe therefore a man hath to marveile hereat, who knoweth how not paft 22 yecres after 

 that, (namely when C^.F^wp^/^^ was the fourth time Confull) Italy was able to furniili other 

 nations and provinces with oile of Olives. Hefiodm alio (who was cfpecially addided to the ftu- 

 dieof husbandrie,and of all things thought it moft necellarie to be taught and publiflied for 

 the good of mankind) wrate thus much concerning the 01ive,That never a manwasknowne to 

 that day for to have gathered the fruit of that Olive tree, which himfelfe had planted ifo late df 

 growth were thole trees in his timCjand fo flowly came they forward. But now adaies they come 

 up of kernels and ftones (ct in plots of ground for the purpole : and being traniplanted againe, 

 they beare Olives thefecond yeare after, FahLnui faith. That Olives love not to grow either in 

 £ the coldefl or the hotefl grounds. 



Vtrgill hath fet downe three kind of Olives, to wit,Orchit3e [/. the great round Olives : ] Ra- 

 dij p. ths long Olives:] and thofe which are called Paufise. He faith moreover. That the Olive 

 trees require no tending or drefling at all, and need neither the hooke to be pruned,nor the rake 

 and harrow to be mouldedjne yet the ipade to bee digged about, Doubikfle,the goodncfle of 

 the fbile, and the temperature of the climat cfpecially ^are very requifite and much materiall a- 

 lone,without farther helpchowbeitthey ufeto be cut and pruned, yea they love alfo to befcra- 

 ped,polilhed,and cleanfed betweene where the branches grow over-thick jCven as well asvincs^ 

 and at thefamefealbn. 



The time of gathering Olives enfueth prcfently upon the vintage of grapes : but greater in- 

 P dultrie and skill is required to the making and tempering of good oi].c, than about new wine: 

 for ye fhall have one & the felfefame kind of Olive to yeeld a different juice,and divers oiles.Firft 

 and foremoft, of the greene Olive and altogither unripe, there is drawne the Oile-olive 5 which 

 hath of all othei the beft verdure, and in taft excelleth the refl : and of this oilCjihe ficft running 

 that corameth from the prefTej is mod commendcds and fo by degrees better or worfe, as the 



oile 



