Chap. 58.] now TREES GEOW SPOISTTANEOTTSLT. 
395 
case with the plane, which, from the density of its branches, 
presents a remarkabl}^ broad surface to the wind : when this 
happens, the branches are cut off, and the tree, thus lightened, 
is replaced in its furrow : this, too, has also been done before 
now with the walnut, the olive, and many others. 
(32.) We have many instances cited also of trees falling to 
the ground without there being any storm or other perceptible 
cause, but merely by way of portentous omen, and then rising 
again of themselves. A prodigy of this nature happened to 
the citizens of Eome during their wars with the Cimbri : at 
JN'uceria, in the grove consecrated to Juno, an elm inclined 
to such a degree, even after the top had been cut off, as 
to overhang the altar there, but it afterwards recovered itself 
to such an extent as to blossom immediately : it was from that 
very moment, too, that the majesty of the Roman people began 
to flourish once again after it had been laid low by disaster 
and defeat. A similar circumstance is said to have taken 
place also at Philippi, where a willow, which had fallen down, 
and the top of which had been taken off, rose again ; and at 
Stagira, in the Museum there, where the same thing occurred 
to a white poplar; all which events were looked upon as 
favourable omens. But what is most wonderful of all, is the 
fact that a plane, at Antandros, resumed its original posi- 
tion even after its sides had been rough- hewn all round with 
the adze,^^ and took root again : it was a tree fifteen cubits 
long, and four ulnae in thickness. 
CHAP. 58. HOW TEEES GEOW SPONTANEOTJSLT DIVEESITIES IN 
THEIE NATUEE, THE SAME TEEES NOT GEO WING EVEEYWHEEE. 
The trees which we owe to !N"ature are produced in three 
different ways; spontaneously, by seed sown, or by a slip 
which throws out a root. Art has multiplied the methods of 
reproduction, as we shall have occasion to state in its own 
appropriate Book at present our sole subject is the operations 
of I^ature, and the manifold and marvellous methods she adopts. 
The trees, as we have already stated,*^^ do not all of them grow 
A grove, probably, consecrated to tbe Muses. 
These stories must be regarded as either fables or impostures ; though 
it is very possible for a tree to survive after the epidermis has been removed 
with the adze. 
70 See B. xvii. c. 9. In c. 7 of this Book. 
