4g8 pliny's natural history. [Book XVII. 



arrow-slips, for after being twisted, they are apt to break in 

 transplanting. The slips when planted should be a foot in 

 length, 94 and not less, and they ought to have five or six knots 

 upon them ; with the dimensions above stated, they cannot, 

 however, possibly have less than three buds. It is considered 

 the most advantageous plan to plant them out the same day 

 that they are cut ; but if it is found necessary to plant them 

 some time after, they should be kept in the way that we have 

 already mentioned ; 95 particular " care being taken not to let 

 them protrude from the earth, lest they should become dried 

 by the action of the sun, or nipped by the wind or frost. 

 When they have been kept too long in a dry place, they must 

 be put in water for several days, for the purpose of restoring 

 their verdancy and freshness. 



The spot selected, whether for nursery or vineyard, ought 

 to be exposed to the sun, and of as great extent as possible ; 

 the soil being turned up to a depth of three feet with a two- 

 pronged fork. The earth, on being thrown up with the mat- 

 tock/ 6 swells naturally, 97 and ridges are formed with it four feet 

 in height, intersected by trenches a couple 98 of feet m depth. 

 The earth in the trenches is carefully cleansed and raked out, 9 * 

 so that none of it may be left unbroken, care being taken also 

 to keep it exactly level ; if the ridges are unequal, it shows 

 that the ground has been badly dug. At the same time the 

 breadth should be measured of each ridge that lies between 

 the trenches. The slips are planted either in holes or else m 

 elongated furrows, and then covered with very fine earth ; 

 but where it is a light soil, the grower will lose his pains 

 should he neglect to place a layer of richer mould beneath. 

 Not less than a couple of slips should be planted _ together, 

 keeping them exactly on a level with the adjoining earth, 

 which should be pressed down and made compact with the 

 dibble. In the seed-plot there should be intervals left between 

 each two settings a foot and a half in breadth and half a foot 

 in length : when thus planted, it is usual, at the end of two 

 years,°to cut the mallet-shoots at the knot nearest the ground, 



si From Columella, B. iii. c. 19. ° 5 In c. 24 of this Book. 



96 " Marra." Probably a mattock, with several prongs. 



97 Occupies more space when thus loosened. 



9 s As compared with the original level of tlm ground. 

 99 Query, if this is the meaning of " extendi"? 



