468 pliny's natural histoet. [Book XVII. 



the purpose, the name given to which is " nov< nanus," 60 being 

 three feet in depth, and the same in breadth or even more ; 

 into this the young tree is put, and the earth is moulded up 

 around it to the height of three feet every way. These mounds 

 are known by the name of "arula" 61 in Campania. The 

 intervals are arranged according to the nature of the spot ; but 

 where the country is level, it is requisite that the trees should 

 be planted wider apart. Poplars and ashes, too, as they ger- 

 minate with greater rapidity, ought to be planted out at an 

 earlier period, or, in other words, immediately after the ides of 

 February. 62 In arranging trees and shrubs for the support of 

 the vine, the form of the quincunx 63 is the one that is gene- 

 rally adopted, and, indeed, is absolutely necessary : it not only 

 facilitates the action of the wind, but presents also a very 

 pleasing appearance, for whichever way you look at the plan- 

 tation, the trees will always present themselves in a straight 

 line. The same method is employed in propagating the poplar 

 from seed as the elm, and the mode of transplanting it from 

 the seed-plot is the same as that adopted in transplanting it 

 from the forests. 



CHAP. 16. THE HOLES FOE TEANSPLANTTNG. 



But it is more particularly necessary in transplanting, that 

 the trees should always be removed to a soil that is similar, or 

 else superior, 64 to the one in which they grew before. If taken 

 from warm or early ripening localities, they ought not to be re- 

 moved to cold or backward sites, nor yet, on the other hand, from 

 these last to the former. If the thing can possibly be done, 

 the holes for transplanting should be dug sufficiently long be- 

 fore to admit of their being covered throughout with a thick coat 

 of grass. Mago recommends that they should be dug a whole 



60 From being about nine feet in circumference. 



61 A " little altar." 62 13^ f February. 

 63 /. e. each at an angle with the other, in this form : — 



* * * 



It was probably so called from the circumstance that each triangle resembles 

 V, or five. 



64 This is the reason why a soil of only middling quality is generally 

 selected for nurseries and seed-plots ; otherwise it might be difficult to 

 transplant the young trees to an improved soil. 



