18 The Forest of the Ancients. 
ing the pruned 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 soil 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 counsels 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 arbustwm 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. 
