Silvicultural Knowledge. 19 



This planting of vine supports was done ^ith saplings 

 of elm, poplar and some other species ; by pollarding and 

 by a well devised system of pruning these were gradually 

 prepared and maintained in proper form for their pur- 

 pose. 



The coppice seems to have been systematically man- 

 aged in Attica as well as in Italy in regular fellings; 

 the mild climate producing sprouts and root suckers 

 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 prac- 

 tice of thinnings is known, but only for the purpose 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 

 remarkably 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 hang up dead owls; against 

 ants, which were deemed injurious, ashes with vinegar 

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



Curiosities in wood technolog}' were rife and many 

 contradictions among the wood sharps existed, as in our 

 times. Only four elements, earth, water, fire, air, com- 



