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

16 UPAVANA VINODA
Next comes the question—whether all parts or different parts of a plant
are to be planted in different seasons of the year ? Varāhamihira answers :
"In the months of Māgha and Falgoon (शिशिरे) are to be planted the
trees whose branches and leaves are not developed ( अजातशाखान् ), in the
months of Agrahāyaṇa and Pous (हेमन्ते) the plants with just developed
branches ( जातशाखान् ), in the months of Śrāvaṇa and Bhādra (वर्षागमे) plants
with well developed branches ( सुस्कन्धान् )" 6.
Kāśyapa, another authority, is more clear on the above directions.
He says:
"Plant in Śiśira those trees that are with undeveloped branches, and in
Hemanta those with developed branches according to prescribed rules
(विधानतः), and those that are provided with well developed branches (सुस्कन्धाः)
during the rains."
Varāhamihira then directs that "Grafts should be smeared with cowdung.
For transplanting ( अन्यदेशेनीत्वा रोपयेदित्यर्थे ) the plants should be smeared
from root to the top ( आमूलस्कन्धमलिप्तानां ) with ghee (clarified butter), sesame oil,
the honey of the kshudra variety of the bee of the Ushira (Andropogon
laniger, or A. Citrarum), the Viḍaṅga, milk and cowdung"—evidently to
stop loss of water by evaporation. 7.
His final direction in this connection is : "It is best to plant trees at
intervals of 20 cubits, next at 16, and 12 cubits' interval is the minimum that
can be prescribed." 12.
The Agnipurāṇa has also a similar prescription :
"It is best to plant trees at intervals of 20 cubits, an interval of 16 cubits is
next, and worst is the interval of 12 cubits. Closely planted trees become
fruitless (barren).¹
Śukrāchāryya, too, prescribes that the good trees are to be planted at a
distance of 20 cubits from one another, the middling at a distance of 15 cubits,
and the ordinary ones at a distance of 10 cubits, and the youngest at a
distance of 5 cubits." ²
And why this minimum limit ? Varāhamihira answers it in śloka 13 :
"The roots thereby becoming mingled together, will interfere with each other's
function, and will become ill at work, and fruits will not be produced."
(मिश्रैर्मूलैश्च न फलं सम्यग्यच्छन्ति पीडिताः).
VIII. THE RULES FOR WATERING OF PLANTS
Watering of plants after transplantation is referred to both in the Bṛhat-
saṃhitā³ and the Agnipurāṇa⁴ which have the following prescription :
1 Chap. 281, 8 & 9.
2 Śukranīti, IV. iv, 91-93. S.B.H. XIII, p. 165.
3 Chap. 54, sl. 9.
4 Chap. 281, sl. 7.