CHAP. 9.—THE GALL-NUT.

All[1] the glandiferous trees produce the gall-nut as well: they only bear acorns, however, in alternate years. The gallnut of the hemeris[2] is considered the choicest of all, and the best adapted for the preparation of leather: that of the latifolia closely resembles it, but is somewhat lighter, and not by any means so highly approved. This last tree produces the black gall-nut also—for there are two varieties of it—this last being deemed preferable for dyeing wool.

(7.) The gall-nut begins to grow just as the sun is leaving the sign of Gemini,[3] and always bursts forth in its entirety in a single night.[4] The white variety grows, too, in a single day, but if the heat happens to overtake it, it shrinks immediately, and never arrives at its proper size, which is about that of a bean. The black gall-nut will remain green for a longer period, and sometimes attains the size of an apple[5] even. The best kind is that which comes from Commagene,[6] and the most inferior are those produced by the robur: it may easily be tested by means of certain holes in it which admit of the passage of the light.[7]

1. This assertion is perhaps too general; gall-nuts are produced in very small quantities by the holm-oak.

2. A variety of the Quercus racemosa, which produces the green gallnut of Aleppo, considered in modern, as in ancient, times the choicest in quality.

3. Theophrastus says the end of June.

4. Its growth, in reality, is not so rapid as this.

5. Such a thing is never seen at the present day.

6. In Syria. We have mentioned the galls of Aleppo in Note 62.

7. This is the case when the inside has been eaten away by the insect that breeds there; of course, in such case it is hollow, light, and worthless.