round in which it needs to be embedded; [3] nor
lastly, how to lay the plant in earth, with any hope of fostering its
growth. [4]

[2] Reading {to phuto}, "nor yet how deep or broad to sink (the hole)
for the plant." Holden (ed. 1886) supplies {bothunon}. Al.
{bothron}.

[3] See Loudon, "Encycl. of Agric." S. 407, ap. Holden: "In France
plantations of the vine are made by dibbling in cuttings of two
feet of length; pressing the earth firmly to their lower end, an
essential part of the operation, noticed even by Xenophon."

[4] Lit. "how, laid in the soil, the plant will best shoot forth or
grow."

Isch. Come, then, to lessons, pupil, and be taught whatever you do not
know already! You have seen, I know, the sort of trenches which are dug
for plants?

Soc. Hundreds of times.

Isch. Did you ever see one more than three feet deep?

Soc. No, I do not think I ever saw one more than two and a half feet
deep.

Isch. Well, as to the breadth now. Did you ever see a trench more than
three feet broad? [5]

[5] Or, "width," "wide." The commentators cf. Plin. "H. N." xvii. 11,
16, 22; Columell. v. 5. 2; ib. iii. 15. 2; Virg. "Georg." ii. 288.

Soc. No, upon my word, not even more than two feet broad.

Isch. Good! now answer me this question: Did you ever see a trench less
than one foot deep?

Soc. No, indeed! nor even less than one foot and a half. Why, the plants
would be no sooner buried than dug out again, if planted so extremely
near the surface.

Isch. Here, then, is one matter, Socrates, which you know as well as any
one. [6] The trench is not to be sunk deeper than two feet and a half,
or shallower than one foot and a half.

[6] Lit. "quite adequately."

Soc. Obviously, a thing so plain appeals to the eye at once.

Isch. Can you by eyesight recognise the difference between a dry soil
and a moist?

Soc. I should certainly select as dry the soil round Lycabettus, [7] and
any that resembles it; and as moist, the soil in the marsh meadows of
Phalerum, [8] or the like.

[7] See Leake, "Topog. of Athens," i. 209.

[8] Or, "the Phaleric marsh-land." See Leake, ib. 231, 427; ii. 9.

Isch. In planting, would you dig (what I may call) deep trenches in a
dry soil or a moist?

Soc. In a dry soil certainly; at any rate, if you set about to dig deep
trenches in the moist you will come to water, and there and then an end
to further planting.

Isch. You could not put it better