The Editors announce with much regret the death of Mr. H. Rackham, whereby the Loeb Classical Library has lost one of its most helpful contributors. Mr. Rackham had completed his work on the galley-proofs of this volume, and was engaged in the revision of the page-proofs. The whole of the translation, except a few verbal changes, is his.

INTRODUCTION

THIS volume contains Books XII–XVI of Pliny’s Naturalis Historia Natural History. Their subject is trees and vines.

The detailed contents will be found in Pliny’s outline of the work, which, with lists of the authorities used for each Book, forms the contents of Book I. For Books XII–XVI, see Volume I, pp. 65–80, of this edition.

Book XII deals with trees—their various qualities.

Book XIII gives foreign trees and their use in supplying scent, fruit, paper and wood.

Book XIV discusses vine-growing and varieties of wine.

Book XV. Olives, olive-oil and fruit-trees.

Book XVI. Forest trees, their nature and varieties; their value for timber and other commodities. Longevity of trees. Parasitic plants.