ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, V. III. 3–5
pact, and among others that of the elder fig apple and bay. The hardest woods are those of the oak zygia and aria (holm-oak); in fact men wet[1] these to soften them for boring holes. In general, woods which are of open porous texture are soft, and of those of fleshy texture the softest is the lime. The last-named seems also to be the hottest; the proof of which is that it blunts iron tools more than any other; for they lose their edge[2] by reason of its heat.
Ivy and bay are also hot woods, and so in general are those used for making fire-sticks; and Menestor[3] adds the wood of the mulberry. [4]The coldest woods are those which grow in water and are of succulent character. The wood again of willow and vine is tough; wherefore men make their shields of these woods; for they close up again after a blow; but that of the willow is lighter, since it is of less compact texture; wherefore they use this for choice. The wood of the plane is fairly tough, but it is moister in character, as also is that of the elm. A proof of this is that, if it is set upright[5] after being cut, it discharges much water.[6] The wood of the mulberry is at once of close grain and tough.
[7]The wood of the elm is the least likely to warp; wherefore they make the 'hinges'[8] of doors out of elm wood; for, if these hold, the doors also keep in place; otherwise they get wrenched out of place. They make the 'hinges' by putting wood from the root above[9] and wood 'from the foliage' below,[9] thus
- ↑ ὑποβρέχουσι conj. Harduin from Plin. 16. 207; ἀποβρίθουσι Ald. H.; ἀποβρέχουσι m Bas.
- ↑ cf. 5. 5. 1, which, referring to this passage, hardly agrees with it as now read.
- ↑ cf. 1. 2. 3 n.
- ↑ Plin. 16. 209.
- ↑ ὀρθὸν ὅταν conj. W.; so G; ὀρθὸς ὅταν MV; ὅταν ὀρθὰ Ald.
- ↑ cf. 5. 1. 6.
- ↑ Plin. 16. 210.
- ↑ Sc. an arrangement of cylindrical pivot and socket.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 i.e. as socket and pivot respectively; cf. 5. 5. 4.
