a little later, manna-ash[1] and maple in summer; alder hazel and a certain kind of wild pear in autumn; oak and chestnut later still, about the setting of the Pleiad; and in like manner alaternus kermes-oak Christ's-thorn cotoneaster after the setting of the Pleiad; aria (holm-oak) when winter is beginning, apple with the first cold weather, wild pear late[2] in winter. Andrachne and hybrid arbutus first ripen their fruit when the grape is turning, and again[3] when winter is beginning; for these trees appear to bear twice. As for[4] silver-fir and yew, they flower a little before the solstice; [5](the flower of the silver-fir is yellow and otherwise pretty); they bear their fruit after the setting of the Pleiad. Fir and Aleppo pine are a little earlier in budding, about fifteen days, but produce their fruit after the setting of the Pleiad, though proportionately earlier than silver-fir and yew.
In these trees then the difference of time is not considerable; the greatest difference is shewn in Phoenician cedar holly and kermes-oak; for Phoenician cedar appears to keep its fruit for a year, the new fruit overtaking that of last year; and, according to some, it does not ripen it at all; wherefore men gather it unripe and keep it, whereas if it is left on the tree, it shrivels up. The Arcadians say that the kermes-oak also takes a year to perfect its fruit; for it ripens last year's fruit at the same time that the new fruit appears on it; the result of which is that such trees always have fruit on them. They say also
