20 The Forest of the Ancients. 



Only a few references which exhibit the state of 

 knowledge on arboricultural subjects among the 

 Romans as shown in this literature may be cited, 

 some of which knowledge was also developed in 

 Greece and found application, more or less, through- 

 out the Roman empire from India to Spain. 



Nursery practice was already well known to Cato, 

 while Varro knew, besides sowing and planting, the 

 art of grafting and layering, and Columella discusses 

 in addition pruning and pollarding (which latter 

 was practiced for securing fuelwood), and the pro- 

 priety of leaving the pruned trees two years to re- 

 cuperate before applying the knife again. 



The method of wintering acorns and chestnuts in 

 sand, working them over every 30 days and separat- 

 ing the poor seed by floating in water, was known to 

 Columella and, indeed, he discusses nursery manage- 

 ment with minute detail, even the advantages of 

 transplants and of doubly transplanted material. 

 The question whether to plant or to sow, the prefer- 

 ence of fall or spring planting with distinction for 

 different species and localities are matters under his 

 consideration; and preference of sowing oak and 

 chestnut instead of transplanting is pointed out and 

 supported by good reasons. 



Pliny, the Humbolt of the ancients, recognizes 

 tolerance of different species, the need of different 

 treatment for different species, the desirability of 

 transplanting to soil and climatic conditions similar 

 to those to which the tree was accustomed, and of 

 placing the trees as they stood with reference to the 

 sun. But, to be sure, he also has many curious 



