61. However, before the season comes, those things
also are not believed, for every season is not suited for the raising
of seeds. Wheat is sown at one time, and comes up at another; at
one time the vine is planted, at another the budding twigs begin to
shoot, the foliage grows luxuriant, and the grape is formed; at one
time the olive is planted, at another time, as though pregnant and
loaded with its offspring of berries, it is bent down by the abundance
of its fruit. But before its own period arrives for each, the
produce is restricted, and that which bears has not the age of bearing
in its own power.
One may see
the mother of all at one time disfigured with mould, at another bare of
produce, at another green and full of flowers, at another dried
up. Any spot which might wish to be always clothed and never to
lay aside the golden dress of its seeds, or the green dress of the
meadows, would be barren in itself and unendowed with the gain of its
own produce which it would have transferred to others.