CHAP. 20. (13.)—TREES WHICH GROW BUT SLOWLY: THOSE WHICH
GROW WITH RAPIDITY.
Some trees are naturally slow in their growth; and those
in particular which grow solely from seed [Note] and are long-lived.
On the other hand, those that are short-lived grow with great
rapidity, such as the fig, pomegranate, plum, apple, pear,
myrtle, and willow, for instance; and yet these are the very
first to display their productions, for they begin to bear at
three years old, and make some show of it even before that
period. The pear is the slowest in bearing of all the trees
above enumerated. The cypirus, [Note] however, and the shrub
known as the pseudo-cypirus [Note] are the earliest in coming to
maturity, for they flower almost immediately, and then produce
their seed. All trees will come to maturity more rapidly when
the suckers are removed, and the nutrimental juices are thrown
into the stock only.
