flesh of open texture. Wherefore the timber of the one is heavy, of the other light, the one[1] being resinous, the other without resin; wherefore also it is whiter. Moreover the fir has more branches, but those of the silver-fir are much tougher, or rather they are tougher than those of any other tree;[2] the branches of both however are of close texture, horny,[3] and in colour brown and like resin-glutted wood. [4]When the branches of either tree are cut, sap streams from them for a considerable time, but especially from those of the silver-fir. Moreover the wood of the silver-fir has many layers, like an onion:[5] there is always another beneath that which is visible, and the wood is composed of such layers throughout. Wherefore, when men are shaving this wood to make oars,[6] they endeavour to take off the several coats one by one evenly: for, if they do this, they get a strong spar, while if they do the work irregularly and do not strip[7] off the coats evenly, they get a weak one; for the process in this case is hacking instead of stripping. The silver-fir also gives timber of the greatest lengths and of the straightest growth; wherefore yard-arms[8] and masts are made from it. Also the vessels[9] and fibre are more clearly[10] seen in it than in any other tree. At first[11] it grows in height only, until it has reached[12] the sunshine; and so far there is no branch nor sidegrowth nor density of habit; but after that the tree proceeds to increase in bulk[13] and density of habit, as[14] the outgrowing branches and sidegrowths develop.
- ↑ τὸ μὲν γὰρ ἐνδ. conj. St. from G; ἐνδ. γὰρ Ald.
- ↑ cf. 3. 9. 7.
- ↑ cf. 3. 9. 7, μόνον οὐ διαφανεῖς, whence it appears that the epithet refers to colour.
- ↑ Plin. 16. 195.
- ↑ i.e. the annual rings. cf. 1. 5. 2; 5. 5. 3.
- ↑ cf. Hom. Od. 12. 172.
- ↑ κατασπῶσιν conj. W; κατὰ πᾶσιν UMV; κατὰ πάντα Ald.
- ↑ cf. Plin. l.c.
- ↑ cf. 1. 2. 1.
- ↑ ἐμφανέστατας conj. W.; εὐγενεστάτας Ald.
- ↑ δὲ conj. Sch.; καὶ U Ald. H.
- ↑ ἄχρι … ἐφίκηται conj. Sch.; ἄχρι οὗ δὴ κἀφίκηται U; ἄχριs οὐκ ἀφίκηται MV; ἄχριs οὗ ἀχίκηται Ald. H.
- ↑ cf. 4. 1. 4.
- ↑ Lit. 'this being the effect of the outgrowth.' πάχος· οὕτως Ald.; πάχος⸒ ὅταν conj. W.
