ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, II. i. 2–4
except from root-stock and cleft wood; apple and pear grow also from branches, but rarely. However it appears that most, if not practically all,[1] trees may grow from branches, if these are smooth young and vigorous.[2] But the other methods, one may say, are more natural, and we must reckon what may occasionally occur as a mere possibility.
In fact there are quite few plants which grow and are brought into being more easily from the upper parts, as the vine is grown from branches; for this, though it cannot[3] be grown from the 'head,'[4] yet can be grown from the branch, as can all similar trees and under-shrubs, for instance, as it appears, rue gilliflower bergamot-mint tufted thyme cala-mint. So the commonest ways of growth with all plants are from a piece torn off or from seed; for all plants that have seeds grow also from seed. And they say that the bay too grows[5] from a piece torn off, if one takes off the young shoots and plants them but it is necessary that the piece torn off should have part of the root or stock[6] attached to it. However the pomegranate and 'spring apple'[7] will grow even without this, and a slip of almond[8] grows if it is planted. The olive grows, one may say, in more ways than any other plant; it grows from a piece of the trunk or of the stock,[9] from the root, from a twig, and from a stake, as has been said.[10] Of other plants the myrtle also can be propagated in several ways; for this too grows from pieces of wood
- ↑ τά γε πολλὰ πάνθ᾽ conj. Sch.; ἢ before πάνθ᾽ ins. St.; τά τε πολλὰ πάνθ᾽ Ald.
- ↑ εὐαυξεῐς conj. H; αὐξεῐς UMV Ald.
- ↑ οὐκ I conj.; οὐδ᾽ MSS.
- ↑ πρώρας, cf. Col 3. 10. 1, caput vitis vocat πρώραν. Sch. restores the word, C.P. 3. 14. 7.
- ↑ cf. C.P. 1. 3. 2.
- ↑ i.e. a 'heel' (Lat. perna).
- ↑ cf. C.P. 2. 11. 6; Athen. 3. 23.
- ↑ cf. Geop. 10. 3. 9.
- ↑ καὶ ἀπὸ τοῠ ξύλου om. Julius Pontedeva on Varro 1. 39. 4: a gloss on ἀπὸ τοῠ πρέμνου κατακ.
- ↑ 2. 1. 2.
