18 The Forest of the Ancients. 



readily without requiring much care, even conifers 

 (cypress and fir) reproducing in this manner. 



.The oak coppice was managed in 7 year rotation, the 

 chestnut in 5 year, and the willow in 3 year rotation. 



Yield and profitableness are discussed, and the 

 practice of thinnings is known, but only for the pur- 

 pose of removing and using the dead material. 



Forest protection was poorly developed: of insects 

 little, of fungi no knowledge existed. Hand-picking 

 was applied against caterpillars, also ditches into 

 which the beetles were driven and then covered; the 

 use of hogs in fighting insects was also known. That 

 goats were undesirable in the woods had been observed. 

 Some remarkable precocious physiological knowledge 

 or rather philosophy existed: it was recognized that 

 frost produces drought and that a remedy is to loosen 

 the soil, aerating the roots, to drain or water as the case 

 might require, and to prune; but also sap letting was 

 prescribed. Against hail, dead owls were to be hung 

 up; against ants, which were deemed injurious, ashes 

 with vinegar were to be applied, or else an ass's heart. 



Curiosities in wood technology were rife and many 

 contradictions among the wood sharps existed, as in 

 our times. Only four elements, earth, water, fire, 

 air, composed all bodies; the more fire in the com- 

 position of a wood, the more readily would it decay. 

 Spruce, being composed of less earth and water but 

 more fire and air, is therefore lighter than oak which, 

 mostly composed of earth, is therefore so durable; 

 but the latter warps and develops season splits 

 because on account of its density it cannot take up 

 readily and resists the penetration of moisture. 



