History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c24.s3.t4.12

v1.c24.s3.t4.12

In its chapter (282) on Vṛkṣāyurveda the Agnipurāṇa deals with the planting (ropana) of trees. It mentions the religious rites to be performed and the asterism under which it is to be done (verses 3-4). When the earth is dry, the planted trees are to be watered each morning and evening in summer, on alternate days in winter, and in the night in the rainy season (verses 7-8). It considers a distance of twenty cubits (hastas) between the trees to be best, of sixteen to be middling, and of twelve to be the inferior most. Trees planted too close become fruitless, hence they are to be chopped off in the beginning (verses 8-9).