Meteorological Constitution of the Earth. 323 



fruit, Qr at least no eatable fruit, but on the island of Cypera, 

 the fruit, although it remains unripe, is yet eatable. Thus, 

 if any change has really taken place, we might incline, both 

 from the reasons already expressed, and from some to be ad- 

 ded, to assume that in former times the temperature has been 

 lower than it is at present, which is contrary to the general 

 opinion. 



As to the time of harvest. Columella says, that it mustlDe the 

 18th of May, and Palladius says, speaking generally, in the 

 month of May. According to a mean number of several years, 

 it begins now in Rome on the 14th of May. Varro fixed it in ge- 

 neral from the solstice to the dog-days, which is from the 21st of 

 June to the 20th of July. Columella says, that the harvest of 

 barley is finished the 28th of June, and in temperate places, the 

 harvest of wheat the 29th of July. Palladius allows the harvest 

 of barley to begin with the beginning of June, and that of wheat 

 for v/arm places near the coast at the conclusion of June, and 

 for temperate countries in the month of July. According 

 to the mean of several years, they now begin the harvest 

 around Rome on the 15th of June, therefore, somewhat ear- 

 lier than even the earliest of the times mentioned. It must, 

 however, be remembered, that this is the beginning of 

 harvest, while in the report from former times, they spoke 

 of the end of the harvest, and where nothing is mentioned 

 probably the middle of the harvest is meant. It is, how- 

 ever, difficult to determine the mean times of harvest in a 

 country of so great extent, but I think that of Rome may 

 pretty well serve for it. Besides, the time of harvest de- 

 pends much upon the varieties of corn which the Romans cul- 

 tivated. 



The time of the wine harvest agrees better. Varro says it 

 happens between the autumnal equinox and the setting of 

 the Pleiades, which he himself supposes to happen thirty-two 

 days after ; and it is thus fixed between the 21st of September 

 and the 23d of October. Columella says, that the wine har_ 

 vest happens in Bcetica near the coast, as well as in Africa, the 

 31st of August; in other warm places on the 11th of Septem- 

 ber, but in most countries on the 28th of September. Palladius 



