2950 “Volgiolis.” This word is found nowhere else, and the reading is doubtful.
2951 This is, at least, an exaggeration.
2953 It is propagated at the present day both from seed and suckers, but mostly from the latter, as the seed does not germinate for two years.
2954 See B. xv. c. 14. Probably a variety of the jujube; but if so, it could hardly be grafted on trees of so different a nature as those here mentioned.
2955 This tree has not been identified. Dalechamps thinks that it is a species of gooseberry, probably the same as the Ribes grossularia of Linnæus. It has been also suggested that it may be the Spina cervina of the Italians, the Rhamnus catharticus of Linnæus, the purgative buckthorn.
2956 Fée doubts if the plum can be grafted on the thorn.
2957 First of March.
2960 From being about nine feet in circumference.
2961 A “little altar.”
2962 13th of February.
2963 I. e. each at an angle with the other, in this form:—
***
**
***
It was probably so called from the circumstance that each triangle resembles V, or five.
2964 This is the reason why a soil of only middling quality is generally selected for nurseries and seed-plots; otherwise it might be difficult to transplant the young trees to an improved soil.
2965 The ordinary depth, at the present day, is about two feet; but when in an argillaceous soil, as Pliny says, the hole is made deeper. If the soil is black mould, the hole is not so deep, and of a square form, just as recommended by Pliny.
2966 De Re Rust. 43.
2967 This would be either useless, or positively injurious to the tree.
2968 See B. xiv. c. 14. It seems impossible to say with exactness how this passage came to be inserted in the context; but Sillig is probably right in suspecting that there is a considerable lacuna here. It is not improbable that Pliny may have enlarged upon the depth of the roots of trees, and the method of removing them in ancient times. Such being the case, he might think it not inappropriate to introduce the story of Papirius, who, when only intending to have a stump cut down that grew in the way, took the opportunity of frightening the prætor of Præneste, by the suddenness of the order to his lictor, and probably the peremptory tone in which it was given. This was all the more serious to the prætor, as Papirius had been rebuking him just before in the severest terms.
2969 From the bundle of fasces, or rods.
2970 This precept is borrowed from Virgil, Georg. ii. 348, et seq.
2971 There is little doubt that they took the right view.
2972 De Re Rust. 28.
2973 This precaution is omitted by the modern nurserymen, though Fée is inclined to think it might be attended with considerable advantage, as the fibres of the side that has faced the south are not likely to be so firm as those of the northern side. This precaution, however, would be of more importance with exotic trees than indigenous ones. It is still practised to some extent with the layers of the vine.
2974 Fée suggests that Pliny may have here misunderstood a passage in Theophrastus, Hist. Plant. ii. 8, with reference to the planting of the fig.
2975 There would be no such result, Fée says.
2976 This is a useless precaution; but at the same time, Pliny’s fears of its consequences are totally misplaced.
2977 At 11 A.M., or 2 P.M.; I. e. between south and south-east, and south and south-west.
2978 De Re Rust. 28.
2979 Wet moss, or moist earth, is used for the purpose at the present day.
2980 De Re Rust. 28. It is most desirable to transplant trees with a layer of the earth in which they have grown; but if carried out to any extent, it would be an expensive process.
2981 “Tradunt.” This expression shows that Pliny does not give credit to the statement. Columella and Palladius speak of three stones being laid under the root, evidently as a kind of charm.
2982 See B. xix. c. 30. A somewhat similar practice is also recommended in B. xv. c. 18; but, of course, as Fée remarks, it can lead to no results.
2983 De Re Rust. 28.
2984 Fée remarks that this is a useful precaution, more particularly in the case of the coniferous trees, the fig, and others that are rich in juice; but if universally used, would be attended with great expense. The French use for the purpose a mixture of fresh earth and cow-dung, to which they give the name of “onguent Saint-Fiacre.” See p. 481.
2985 This is from Theophrastus, Hist. Plant. ii. 7. The question, however, depends entirely upon the nature of the tree, the quality of the soil, and various other considerations, as Pliny himself admits.
2987 By depriving it of the light, and the heat of the sun; but, most probably, from no other reason.
2988 “Quoniam et protecta vinearum ratione egent.” This passage is probably in a mutilated state.
2989 “In se convoluta.”
2990 The plane was much valued for its shade by convivial parties. Hence we find in Virgil, Georg. iv. 146—“Atque ministrantem platanum potantibus umbram.”
2991 He clearly alludes to the quivering poplar, Populus tremula of Linnæus.
2992 This is quite a fallacy. Even in the much more probable cases of the upas and mangineel, it is not the fact.
2993 Theophrastus, De Causis, B. iii. c. 8, says, that trees that grow on declivities have shorter branches than those of the same kind growing on plains.
2994 De Re Rust. c. 16.
2995 This assertion is doubtful; at the present day, in Andalusia, the palm, the poplar, and many other trees are much larger than the olive.
2996 “Thousand pounders.” This, as Fée remarks, is clearly an exaggeration.
2997 Virgil, Georg. ii. 57, makes the same remark.
2998 This shrub has not been identified.
3000 De Re Rust. c. 51.
3001 The French call cultivation by layers “marcotte,” as applied to trees in general; and “provignage,” as applicable to the vine. The two methods described by Pliny are still extensively practised.
3002 Taken from Cato, De Re Rust. c. 133.
3003 The Juniperus sabina of Linnæus: see B. xxiv. c. 61. It produces seed, and there is only one variety that is barren; the plant being, in reality, diœceous.
3004 The rosemary, in reality, is a hermaphroditic plant, and in all cases produces seed.
3006 This, Fée remarks, is in reality no more a case of grafting than the growing of a tree from seed accidentally deposited in the cleft of a rock.
3007 Still used for the reproduction of fruit-trees and shrubs in the pleasure garden.
3008 Georg. ii. 73.
3009 This story is borrowed from Theophrastus, De Caus. B. ii. c. 19. Fée remarks, that it is very doubtful if an operation of so coarse a nature could be productive of such results; and he says, that, at all events, the two woods must have been species of the same genus, or else individuals of the same family. The mode of grafting here described is called by agriculturists in foreign countries, “Pliny’s graft.”
3010 These statements as to the locality of the sap are erroneous.
3011 The fig is the only fruit that is not improved by grafting; but then it is not similar to most fruit, being, as Fée says, nothing more than a fleshy floral receptacle.
3012 This remark is founded on sound notions of vegetable physiology; but at the same time it is contradictory to what he states in the sequel as to grafting the pear on the plane, the apple on the cornel, &c.
3013 Georg. ii. 78.
3014 An unnecessary precaution. It is not the situation of the branches so much as the nature of the soil, traversed by the roots, corresponding to them, that would be likely to have an influence on the graft. There is little doubt that Pliny borrowed the present passage from Columella, De Re Rust. v. 11; and De Arbor. 20.
3015 This is sound advice.
3017 In reprehending this absurd notion, Fée bestows a passing censure on the superstitions of this nature, contained in the English Vox Stellarum, one of our almanacks; and in the French “Almanach des Bergers,” “Shepherds’ Almanack.”
3018 This is borrowed by Palladius, in the operations of February, tit. 17, and October, tit. 12.
3019 De Re Rust. 40.
3020 This is the onguent Saint-Fiacre of the French, and is still used to protect the graft from all contact with the exterior air.
3021 “Altitudinem,” as Dalechamps suggests, would appear to be a better reading than “latitudinem.”
3022 See B. xxv. c. 40.
3023 Borrowed from Columella, B. iv. c. 29. This method is still employed for young plants; in France it is called “salting” the plants.
3024 De Re Rust. 41.
3025 The first of these methods is now the only one at all employed with the vine; indeed, it is more generally reproduced by means of layers and suckers.
3026 It is not accurately known what was the form or particular merit of this auger or wimble.
3027 Fée remarks, that the period here named is very indefinite. May and the early part of June are the periods now selected for grafting the vine.
3028 This is borrowed from Varro, De Re Rust. B. i. c. 40. In reality, it makes no difference whether the stock is that of a wild tree or of the cultivated species.
3029 “Emplastrum.” Properly, the little strip of bark, which is fitted in with the eye, and which is plastered or soldered down.
3030 “Scutula.” So called from its resemblance to a “little shield.”
3031 De Re Rust. 42.
3032 Cato says, three and a-half.
3034 Perhaps “Tuliæ;” which would mean, according to Festus, the “cascades” or “waterfalls” of Tibur, now Tivoli.
3035 Fée says, that if we take the word “grafted” here in the strictest sense, Pliny must have seen as great a marvel as any of those mentioned in the “Arabian Nights;” in fact, utter impossibilities. He thinks it possible, however, that a kind of mock grafting may have been produced in the case, still employed in some parts of Italy, and known as the “greffe-Diane.” A trunk of an orange tree is split, and slips of numerous trees are then passed into it, which in time throw out their foliage and blossoms in various parts of the tree, or at the top; the consequence of which is, that the stock appears to bear several varieties of blossoms at the same moment. It is not improbable that Pliny was thus imposed upon.
3036 The plane and the oak are no longer employed for the purpose.
3040 The mulberry is incapable of being grafted on the elm.
3041 De Re Rust. 45. The method of planting here described is still the one most generally approved of for the olive.
3042 De Re Rust. 44. The rules here given are still very generally observed.
3045 The olive is an extremely long-lived tree; it has been known to live as long as nine or ten centuries. A fragment of the bark, with a little wood attached, if put in the ground, will throw out roots and spring up. Hence it is not to be wondered at, that the ancients looked upon it as immortal.
3046 B. xviii. c. 74.
3047 B. xviii. c. 74.
3048 B. ii. c. 47, and B. xviii. c. 68.
3049 There is a contradiction here; a few lines above, he says that they do plant their trees in Greece at this period. He may possibly mean “sow.”
3050 See B. xvi. c. 41. The rules here laid down by Pliny are, as Fée remarks, much too rigorous, and must be modified according to extraneous circumstances.
3051 13th of February.
3053 1st of March.
3054 15th of March.
3056 De Re Rust. B. v. c. 11. A very absurd and useless method, Fée remarks.
3058 All the precepts given in this Chapter have been already given in cc. 3 and 4 of the present Book.
3059 The maple, linden, elm, and arundo donax, are still employed, as well as the willow, for this purpose; the latter, however, but very rarely. The account of its cultivation here given is borrowed from Columella, De Re Rust. B. iv. c. 30.
3060 The Salix viminalis of Linnæus, or white osier.
3061 The Salix alba of Linnæus. These stakes, or props, are for the support of the vine.
3062 For making baskets and bindings.
3063 The Populus canescens of Willdenow.
3064 The Arundo donax of Linnæus. This account is mostly from Columella, B. iv. c. 32.
3066 First of March.
3067 This method is condemned by Columella, De Arbor. 29, as the produce is poor, meagre, and weak. It is but little practised at the present day.
3068 A mere superstition, of course.
3069 “Pedamenta,” uprights, stays, stakes, or props.
3070 This is not the fact, for the chesnut both grows and buds very slowly.
3072 In reality, the chesnut will not thrive in a tufaceous, or, indeed, in any kind of calcareous, soil.
3074 The heaps of five in which they are sown.
3075 The chesnut is grown with the greatest difficulty from layers and slips, and never from suckers. Pliny borrows this erroneous assertion from Columella, B. iv. c. 32. In mentioning the heaps of five nuts, Pliny seems to have had some superstitious observance in view, for Columella only says that they must be sown thickly, to prevent accident. The same is done at the present day, in order to make provision for the depredations of field-mice, rats, and mice, which are particularly fond of them.
3076 The willow and the reed.
3079 “Armamentis.” More properly, “rigging,” or “tackle.” He alludes to the trees from which the uprights or stays for the vine are cut, or which produce osiers for baskets and bindings required in the vintage.