BOOK XVII. XVI. 86-xvii. 88 



Cato " dirccts conveyin<r tlie trees to the fresh place in 

 baskets, no doubt niost useful advice ; and moreover 

 he thinks it satisfactory for the top layer of soil to be 

 put at the bottom of the hole. Some writers say that 

 with pomcgranates to lay stones at the l)ottom of 

 the hole will prevent the fruit from bursting open on 

 fhe tree. It is better to plant the roots in a bent 

 position ; and it is essential for the tree itself to be so 

 placed as to be exactly in the middle of the hole. It 

 is said that if a fi^-tree is planted stuck iii a squill — 

 this is a kind of bulb — it bears fruit very quickl}', and 

 is not liable to attacks of worm, a defect from which 

 all other kinds of fruit trees planted in a similar way 

 are exempt. Who can doubt tliat great care ought to 

 be taken with thc fibres of the roots, so that they may 

 appear to have been taken, not torn, out of the 

 ground ? On this account we omit the remaining rules 

 that are admitted, for instance that the earth round 

 the roots should be rammed tight with a light mallet, 

 which Cato '' thinks of primary importance in this 

 matter, also advising that a wound made on the trunk 

 should be plastered over with dung and bandaged 

 with leaves. 



XVII. A part of this topic is the question of the svacingoj 

 spaces between the trces. Some people have advised '^^"' 

 planting pomegranates, myrtles, and laurels rather 

 close together, only three yards apart, apples a Uttle 

 wider apart, pears still wider, and almonds and figs 

 wider again ; althougli this matter will best be de- 

 cided by taking account of the length of the branches 

 and the dimensions of the places concerned, as well 

 as of the shadow of each particular tree, since these 

 too must be considered : even large trees throw only 

 small bhadows when their branches curve round into 



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