18 The Forest of the Ancients. 



ing the praned trees two years to recuperate before 

 applying the knife again. 



The method of wintering acorns and chestnuts in 

 sand, working them over every 30 days and separating 

 the poor seed by floating in water, is known, and the same 

 writer discusses nursery management with minute de- 

 tail, even the advantages of transplants and of doubly 

 transplanted material. The question whether to plant 

 or to sow, and the preference of fall or spring planting 

 with distinction for different species and localities are 

 much discussed; and preference of sowing oak and 

 chestnut instead of transplanting is pointed out with 

 good reasons. 



Pliny, the Humboldt of the ancients, recognizes tol- 

 erance of different species, the need of different treat- 

 ment for different species, the desirability of trans- 

 planting to son 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 notions, as for instance 

 his coimsels to set shallow rooted trees deeper than they 

 stood before, his advice not to plant in rain or wind and 

 his laying much stress on the phases of the moon as 

 influencing results. 



Silviculture was mainly developed in connection with 

 the coppice, which was systematically practiced for the 

 purpose of growing vineyard stakes, especially with 

 chestnut (castanetum), oak (quercetum), and willow 

 (salicetum), while the arbustum denoted the plantings 

 of trees for the support of grapes, and incidentally for 

 the foliage used as cattle feed, still in vogue in modern 

 Italy. 



