BOOK XVII. xxxu. 143-XXM11. 146 



of the same depth. It is proper to cut rods from it 

 in about three years ; but these also fill up the place 

 of trees that are growing old, by means of a layered 

 new growth cut off aftcr a year. A single acre of 

 osier-willow will supply enough for 25 acres of vine- 

 yard. The white poplar is also grown for the same 

 purpose, the hole being two fect deep and ihc cutting 

 eighteen inches long and left two davs to dry ; the 

 truncheonsareplantcdonc foot nine inches apart and a 

 layer of earth a yard deep is thrown on the top of them. 



XXXIII. The reed Ukes an even moister soil than ^eed. 

 osiers do. It is phinted by putting the bulb of the 

 root, which others call thc ' eye ', in a hole nine inches 

 deep, two feet six inches apart ; and it renews itself 

 of its own accord when an old reed-bed has been 

 rooted up, a method that has been found to pay 

 bettcr than thinning out, as used to be done pre- 

 viously, because the roots get twisted up together 

 and are killed by their mutual inroads. The time 

 to plant is before the eyes of the reeds swell up, 

 which is before the first of March. It goes on grow- 

 ing till midwinter, and stops when it is beginning 

 to get hard, which is the indication that it is ready 

 for cutting ; though it is thought that the reed also 

 requires digging routid as often as the vine does. It 

 is also planted in a horizontal position, not buried 

 deep in the ground, and as many shoots spring up as 

 there are cves. It is also grown by being planted 

 out in a hole a foot deep, with two eyes buried so 

 that the third knot is just touching the earth, and 

 with the head bent down so as not to hold the dew. 

 It is cut when the moon is on the wane. For prop- 

 ping vines a reed dried in smoke is more serviceable 

 than one still green. 



