498 
flint's NATUllAL HISTOIIT. 
[Book XYII. 
arrow- slips, for after being twisted, they are apt to break in 
transplanting. The slips when planted should be a foot in 
length,^* and not less, and they ought to have five or six knots 
upon them ; with the dimensions above stated, they cannot, 
however, possibly have less than three buds. It is considered 
the most advantageous plan to plant them out the same day 
that they are cut ; but if it is found necessary to plant them 
some time after, they should be kept in the way that we have 
already mentioned particular care being taken not to let 
them protrude from the earth, lest they should become dried 
by the action of the sun, or nipped by the wind or frost. 
When they have been kept too long in a dry place, they must 
be put in water for several days, for the purpose of restoring 
their verdancy and freshness. 
The spot selected, whether for nursery or vineyard, ought 
to be exposed to the sun, and of as great extent as possible ; 
the soil being turned up to a depth of three feet with a two- 
pronged fork. The earth, on being thrown up with the mat- 
tock, swells naturally, and ridges are formed with it four feet 
in height, intersected hj trenches a couple^^ of feet in depth. 
The earth in the trenches is carefully cleansed and raked out,^^ 
so that none of it may be left unbroken, care being taken also 
to keep it exactly level ; if the ridges are unequal, it shows 
that the ground has been badly dug. At the same time the 
breadth should be measured of each ridge that lies between 
the trenches. The slips are planted either in holes or else in 
elongated furrows, and then covered with very fine earth ; 
but where it is a light soil, the grower will lose his pains 
should he neglect to place a layer of richer mould beneath. 
I^ot less than a couple of slips should be planted together, 
keeping them exactly on a level with the adjoining earth, 
which should be pressed down and made compact with the 
dibble. In the seed-plot there should be intervals left between 
each two settings a foot and a half in breadth and half a foot 
in length : when thus planted, it is usual, at the end of two 
years, to cut the mallet- shoots at the knot nearest the ground, 
9^ From Columella, B. iii. c. 19. c. 24 of this Book. 
96 " Marra." Probably a mattock, with several prongs. 
97 Occupies more space when thus loosened. 
98 As compared with the original level of the ground. 
99 Query, if this is the meaning of " extendi"? 
