Of the differences between wild and cultivated trees.
II. All trees are either fruit-bearing or without fruit, either evergreen or deciduous, either flowering or flowerless; for certain distinctions apply to all trees whether cultivated or wild. To wild trees, as compared with cultivated ones, belong the special properties of fruiting late, of greater vigour, of abundance of fruit, produced if not matured; for they ripen their fruit later, and in general their time of flowering and making growth is later; also they are more vigorous in growth, and so, though they produce more fruit, they ripen it less; if[1] this is not universally true, at least it holds good of the wild olive and pear as compared with the cultivated forms of these trees. This is generally true with few exceptions, as in the cornelian cherry and sorb; for the wild forms of these, they say, ripen their fruit better, and it is sweeter than in the cultivated forms. [2]And the rule also does not hold good of anything which does not admit of cultivation, whether it be a tree or one of the smaller plants, as silphium caper and, among leguminous plants, the lupin; these one might say are specially wild in their character. For, as with animals which do not submit to domestication, so a plant which does not submit to cultivation may be called wild in its essential character. However Hippon[3] declares that of every plant there exists both a cultivated and a wild form, and that 'cultivated' simply means[4] that the plant has received attention, while 'wild' means that it has not; but though he is partly right, he is partly wrong. It is true that any plant deteriorates by neglect and so becomes wild but it is not true that every plant may be improved by attention,[5] as has been said. Wherefore[6] we must make our distinction and call some things wild, others cultivated—the latter class corresponding to those animals which live with man and can be tamed.[7]
But perhaps it does not matter which way this should be put. Any tree which runs wild deteriorates and itself becomes dwarfed in leaves branches bark and appearance generally; for under cultivation these parts, as well as the whole growth of the tree, become closer, more compact[8] and harder; which indicates that the difference between cultivated and wild is chiefly shown in these respects. And so those trees which show these characteristics under cultivation they say are really wild, for instance fir cypress, or at least the 'male' kind, hazel and chestnut.
Moreover these wild forms are distinguished by having greater liking for cold and for hilly country; for that too is regarded as a means of recognising wild trees and wild plants generally, whether it is so regarded in itself or as being only incidentally a distinguishing mark.
So the definition of wild kinds, whether it should be thus made or otherwise, perhaps makes no difference for our present purpose. But it is certainly true, speaking[9] broadly and generally, that the wild trees are more to be found in hilly country, and that the greater part of them flourish more in such regions, with the exception of those which love water or grow by river skies or in woods; these and such-like trees are rather trees of the plain. However on great mountains, such as Parnassus Cyllene the Pierian and the Mysian Olympus, and such regions anywhere else, all kinds grow, because of the diversity of positions afforded them. For such mountains offer positions which are marshy, wet, dry, deep-soiled or rocky; they have also their meadow land here and there, and in fact almost every variety of soil; again they present positions which lie low and are sheltered, as well as others which are lofty and exposed to wind; so that they can bear all sorts, even those which belong to the plains.
Yet it is not strange that there should be some mountains which do not thus bear all things, but have a more special kind of vegetation to a great extent if not entirely; for instance the range of Ida in Crete[10]; for there the cypress grows; or the hills of Cilicia and Syria, on which the Syrian cedar grows, or certain parts of Syria, where the terebinth grows. For it is the differences of soil which give a special character to the vegetation. [11](However the word 'special' is used here in a somewhat extended sense.)
- ↑ εἰ μὴ … όμογεινῆ conj. W.; εἰ μὴ καὶ πάντα τὰ ἄλλα καὶ τὰ ὁμοιογενῆ UMV Ald. H.
- ↑ cf. C.P. 3. 1. 4.
- ↑ cf. 1. 3. 5 n.
- ↑ i.e. the terms 'cultivated' and 'wild' do not denote distinct 'kinds.'
- ↑ i.e and so become 'cultivated.'
- ↑ ὃ δὴ MSS.; διὸ conj. Sch. from G.
- ↑ τιθασείαν conj. W., cf. Plat. Pol. 264 c; τιθάσιον UMAld.
- ↑ οὐλότερα conj. W. from G, spissiora; ὀρθότερα MSS. cf. C.P. 6. 11. 8.
- ↑ ὤς γε conj. Sch.; ὥστε UM; ὡς ἐν Ald. H.
- ↑ ἐν … Ἰδαῖα conj. W. (after Sch., who conj. τὰ ἐν); τὰ ἐν κρήτῃ τῇ ἸδαίᾳU Ald.
- ↑ i.e. it is not meant that a tree which is 'special' to Mount Ida (e.g.) occurs only there.