उपवनविनोद (आचार्य शार्ङ्गधर - वृक्षायुर्वेद, भू-जल संधान एवं उद्यान-विज्ञान सटीक)

SCIENCE OF ARBORI-HORTICULTURE IN ANCIENT INDIA 13
(6) The Palmaceae (including the cocoanut, date, areca, and other palms)
are classed as tree grasses, probably because, like the grasses they are
endogens characterised by spikes and parallel veins ( तृणद्रुमः ).
(7). The Jālanīlī (or Plava) includes all floating species which give the
water a green or blue colour, and finally,
(8) the Śaivāla includes the mosses and the algae¹.
B. METHODS OF PROPAGATION
Various methods of propagation, such as, by seeds (vījaruha), by roots
(mūlaja), by cuttings (skandhaja), by graftings ( स्कन्धं रोपणीया ), by apical portions
(agravīja), by leaves (parṇayoni), and by śaunarudhaja (?) are mentioned in
ancient treatises.
Propagation by seeds is a very common method. The Ṛgveda and the
Atharvaveda mention it in various places. Manu (I, 46, 48) mentions plants
that grow from seeds, and from planted cuttings. The Arthaśāstra (Chap. 24,
p. 141) mentions propagation by bulbous roots and underground stems
(kandavījam), and by cuttings (skandhavījam). The Bṛhatsaṁhitā (Chap. 54)
directs that Kāṇṭhāl, Aśoka, Kadalī, Jambu, Lakuca, Dāḍima, Drākṣā,
Pālibata, Vijapura and Atimuktaka—all these are to be propagated by means
of cuttings ( काण्डरोप्याः ).-(4 & 5). Maskarin Gosāla says, “Sugarcane, bamboo,
reeds, etc., propagate from joints.”
Better than cuttings is the process of grafting as recommended by the
author of the Bṛhatsaṁhitā. There are two methods: one consisting in in-
serting the cutting from one plant into the root of another severed from its
trunk. And the second method consists in inserting the cutting of one tree
into the stem of another—the cutting is called the scion, and the parent plant
is called the stock ( मूलोच्छे देऽथवास्कन्धं रोपणीयाः परं ततः ). 5.
As an instance of the method, called agravīja, i.e. plants whose apices are
only planted as a means of propagation, Betel is mentioned. Bryophyllum
calycinum and Begonias are given as instances of the method where leaves
(parṇayoni) serve as a means of multiplication.
Buddhaghosa in his commentory on Dīgha Nikāya (I, p. 3) gives us the
following illustrations of the methods of propagation :
Mūlabījam (root-seeds)—Haliddiṁ (turmeric), Singiveraṁ (zinziber), Vacaṁ,
Ativiṣaṁ, Kaṭukorohiṇī, Uśīraṁ, etc.
Khaṇḍa-bījam (cuttings)—Assattho, Kacchako, Nigrodha, Pilakkho, Udum-
baro, Kapitthano, etc.
Phalu-bījam ( joints )—as in Reeds, Sugarcane.
Agga-bījam ( buddings )—the plant Samīrana (?), Ajjukaṁ, Hiriveraṁ, etc.
1 Quoted from Seal’s Positive science (1915), pp. 175—173,