first budding as a sort of joint, just as in the case of the first budding. This happens about the end of the month Skirrophorion.[1]
[2](It is only at the time of this second budding that the galls also are produced, both the white and the black the liquid forming them is mostly produced in quantity at night, and, after swelling for one day—except the part which is of resinous character—it hardens if it is caught by the heat, and so cannot grow any more otherwise it would have grown greater in bulk; wherefore in some trees the formation is not larger than a bean. The black gall is for several days of a pale green[3] colour then it swells and sometimes attains the size of an apple.)
Then, after an interval[4] of about fifteen days, the tree for the third time puts on buds in the month Hekatombaion[5]; but this growth continues for fewer days than on either of the previous occasions, perhaps for six or seven at most. However the formation of the bus is as before and takes place in the same manner. After this period there is no increase in length, but the only increase is in thickness.
The periods of budding can be seen in all trees, but especially in fir and silver-fir, because the joints of these are in a regular series and have the knots at even distances. It is then the season also for cutting the timber, because the bark is being shed[6]; for at other times the bark is not easy to strip off, and moreover, if it is stripped off, the wood turns black[7] and is inferior in appearance for as to its utility[8] this makes no difference, though the wood
