470 plot's NATUBAX HISTOHY. [Book XVII. 



terror of the prsetor of Prccneste, he had ordered the lictors to 

 draw 09 their axes. And, indeed, there is no harm in cutting 

 away those portions [of the root] which have become exposed. 

 Some persons recommend that a bed should be formed at the 

 bottom, of potsherds or round pebbles, 70 which both allow the 

 moisture to pass and retain as much as is wanted ; while at 

 the same time they are of opinion that flat stones are of no use 

 in such a case, and only prevent the root from penetrating 

 the earth. To line the bottom with a layer of gravel would be 

 to follow a middle course between the two opinions. 



Some persons recommend that a tree should not be trans- 

 planted before it is two years old, nor yet after three, while 

 others, again, are of opinion that if it is one year old it is 

 quite sufficient ; Cato 73 thinks that it ought to be more than 

 live fingers in thickness at the time. The same author, too, 

 would not have omitted, if it had been of any importance, to 

 recommend that a mark 73 should be made on the bark for the 

 purpose of pointing out the southern aspect of the tree ; so 

 that, when transplanted, it may occupy exactly the same posi- 

 tion that it has previously done ; from an apprehension that 

 the north side of the tree, on finding itself opposite to a south- 

 ern sun, might split, and the south side be nipped by the 

 north-eastern blasts. Indeed, there are some persons who 

 follow a directly opposite practice even in the vine and the fig,' 

 by placing the north side of the tree, when transplanted, to- 

 wards the south, and vice versa; being of opinion that by 



think it not inappropriate to introduce the story of Papirius, who, when 

 only intending to have a stump cut down that grew in the way, took the 

 opportunity of frightening the prater of Pneneste, by the suddenness of 

 the order to his lictor, and probably the peremptory tone in which it was 

 o-iven. This was all the more serious to the prater, as Papirius had been 

 rebuking him just before in the severest terms. 

 ' s* From the bundle of fasces, or rods. _ 



70 This precept is borrowed from Virgil, Georg. n. 348, et seq. 



n There is little doubt that they took the right view. 



n De ReEust. 28. , , . 



"3 This precaution is omitted by the modern nurserymen, though t ee is 

 inclined to think it might be attended with considerable advantage as the 

 fibres of the side that has faced the south are not likely to be so firm as 

 those of the northern side. This precaution, however, would be ot more 

 importance with exotic trees than indigenous ones. It is still practised to 

 some extent with the layers of the vine. 



■i Fee su°^ests that Pliny mav have here misunderstood a passage in 

 Theophrastust Hist. Plant, ii. 8, with reference to the planting of the fig. 



