Enquiry into Plants/Volume 1/Chapter 74

by Theophrastus

Of the localities in which the best timber grows.

VIII. Each kind of timber, as was said before, differs according to the place^[1] where it grows; in one place nettle-tree, in another the cedar is remarkably fine, for instance in Syria; for in Syria and on its mountains the cedars grow to a surpassing height and thickness: they are sometimes so large that three men cannot embrace the tree. And in the parks they are even larger and finer. It appears that any tree, if it is left alone in its natural position and not cut down, grows to a remarkable height and thickness. For instance in Cyprus the kings used not to cut the trees, both because they took great care of them and banded them, and also because the transport of the timber was difficult. The timbers cut for Demetrius'^[2] ship of eleven banks of oars were thirteen fathoms long, and the timbers themselves were without knots and smooth, as well as of marvellous length. But largest of all, they say, are the trees of Corsica; for whereas silver-fir and fir grow in Latium to a very great size, and are taller and finer than the silver-firs and firs of South Italy, these are said to be nothing to the trees of Corsica. For it is told how the Romans once made an expedition to that island with twenty-five ships, wishing to found a city there; and so great was the size of the trees that, as they sailed into certain bays and creeks, they got into difficulties^[3] through breaking their masts.^[4] And in general it is said that the whole island is thickly wooded and, as it were, one wild forest; wherefore the Romans gave up the idea of founding their city: however some of them made an excursion^[5] into the island and cleared away a large quantity of trees from a small area, enough to make a raft with fifty sails;^[6] but this broke up in the open sea. Corsica then, whether because of its uncultivated condition or because of its soil and climate, is very superior in trees to other countries.

The country of the Latins is all well watered; the lowland part contains bay, myrtle, and wonderful beech: they cut timbers of it of such a size that they will run the whole length^[7] of the keel of a Tyrrhenian vessel. The hill country produces fir and silver-fir. The district called by Circe's name is, it is said, a lofty promontory, but very thickly wooded, producing oak, bay in abundance, and myrtle. There, according to the natives, dwelt Circe, and they shew Elpenor's tomb,^[8] on which grow myrtles like those used for garlands, though other kinds of myrtle are large trees. Further it is said that the district is a recent addition^[9] to the land, and that once this piece of land was an island, but now the sea has been silted up by certain streams and it has become united to the coast, and the size of the 'island'^[10] is about eighty furlongs in circumference. There is^[11] then much difference in trees, as has been said repeatedly, which is due to the individual character of particular districts.

1. τόπους conj. Scal. from G; τόδας Ald.
2. Demetrius Poliorcetes. cf. Plut. Demetr. 43; Plin. 16. 203.
3. ἐπικινδυνεῦσαι conj. W.; ἐπὶ τὸν πύκνον Ald.; so U, but πυκνον.
4. i.e. against the overhanging trees. ? ἱστίοις, to which διασχ. is more appropriate.
5. διαβάντας δέ τινας conj. St. from G; διαβάντα δέ τινα Ald. H.
6. ἢ ἐχρήσατο πεντ. ἱστ. conj. Sch.; ᾗ ἐχρήσαντο οἱ Ald. H.
7. διανεκῶς conj. Sch.; διὰ νεὼς Ald.
8. cf. Hom. Od. 10. 552 foll., 11. 51–80, 12. 8–15; Plin. 15. 119.
9. νέαν πρόσθεσιν conj. Sch.; εἰς ἀνδρὸς θέσιν Ald.
10. cf. Plin. 3. 57.
11. ἔχει conj. Sch.; εἶναι Ald.

Layout 2