BOOK XVII. XXXI. 139-xxxn. 143 



make trenches neither broad nor deep, but the con- 

 trary in warni and drv ground, so that they may 

 receive and retain water as niuch as possible. This 

 is the method used in cultivating old trees as well, 

 as in very warm locaHties growers heap earth over 

 the roots in summer and cover them up, to prevent 

 the heat of the sun from parching them. In other 

 places they turn up the earth round them and give 

 access to the air, but also in winter pile up earth to 

 protect them from frost ; whereas growers in hot 

 chmates open up the roots in winter and try to 

 obtain moisture for the thirsty trees. Everywhere 

 the rule is to dig a circular trench three feet in cir- 

 cumference round the tree, though this is not done 

 in meadowland because the roots, owing to their love 

 of sun and moisture, wander about on the surfjice of 

 the ground. — ^And let these be our general observa- 

 tions in regard to planting and grafting trees for fruit. 



XXXII. It remains to give an account of those Tnesgrown 

 which are grown as supports for other trees, particu- andfor""^' 

 larlv for vines, and which are felled for timber. '""^^■■osier 



* 1 1 n 1 1 1 11 and white 



Among these the nrst place is taken by willows, wuiow, whHe 

 which are planted in a damp place, but in a hole dug ches^mt'^^' 

 two and a half feet deep, a truncheon or rod 18 inches (indoihers. 

 long being used, the stouter the morc serviceable. 

 They should be set six fect apart. When three ycars 

 old they are lopped off two feet from the ground 

 to make them spread out wide and to enable them 

 to be cut back without using hidders ; for the willow 

 is the more productive the nearer it is to the ground. 

 It is advised that these trees also should be dug 

 round every year, in April. This is the mode of 

 cultivating the osier willow. The stake willow is 

 grown both from a rod and from a truncheon, in a hole 



99 



