104 
Flint's natural histoet. 
[Book XIL 
those nations have to pay a tax for the enjoyment of its shade. 
Dionysius the Elder, one of the tyrants of Sicily, had plane- 
trees conveyed to the city of Ehegium, where they were looked 
upon as the great marvel of his palace, which was afterwards 
converted into a gymnasium. These trees did not, however, 
in that locality, attain any very great height. I find it also 
stated by some authors, that there were some other instances, 
in those days even, of plane-trees being found in Italy, and I 
find some mentioned by name as existing in Spain.^* 
CHAP. 4. THE NATURE OF THE PLANE-TREE. 
This circumstance took place about the time of the capture 
of the City of Eome ; and to such high honour, in the course 
of time, did the plane-tree attain, that it was nurtured by 
pouring wine upon it, it being found that the roots were greatly 
strengthened by doing so. Thus have we taught the very 
trees, even, to be wine-bibbers ! 
CHAP. 5. — REMARKABLE PACTS CONNECTED WITH THE 
PLANE-TREE. 
The first plane-trees that were spoken of in terms of high 
admiration were those which adorned the walks of the Aca- 
demy at Athens — [in one of which], the roots extended a dis- 
tance of thirty-three cubits, and spread far beyond its branches. 
At the present day, there is a very famous plane in Lycia, 
situate in close proximity to a fountain of the most refresh- 
ing coolness ; standing near the road, with the cavity in its 
rent which the tributary nations paid to the Eoman treasury* Virgil and 
Homer speak of the shade of the plane-tree, as a pleasant resort for festive 
parties. 
1* It is not improbable that Pliny, in copying from Theophrastus, has 
here committed an error. That author, B. ix. c. 7, says : tv fxev yap r<^ 
'Adp'ia wXdravov ov (paaiv eivai, irXiqv Trepl to AiofxridovQ iepov ffiraviav 
de Kai iv 'IraXig, Trdtjy. They say that in Adria there are no plane-> 
trees, except about the temple of Diomedes : and that they are extremely 
rare in Italy." Pliny, probably, when his secretary was reading to him, , 
mistook the word airaviav^ "rare,'* for ^lairaviq,^ '*in Spain.'* 
It has been remarked that, in reality, this process would only tend 
to impede its growth. Macrobius tells us, that Hortensius was guilty of 
this singular folly. 
16 Situate near the sea-shore. It was here that Plato taught. See B. 
xxxi. c. 3. 
