218 pliny's NATURAL HISTORY. [Book XIV. 



ceded to Italy, that in this one blessing we may pronounce her 

 to have surpassed those of all other nations of the earth, with 

 the sole exception of those that bear the various perfumes ? 

 and even there, when the vine is in flower, there is not a per- 

 fume known which in exquisite sweetness can surpass it. 

 The vine has been justly reckoned 11 by the ancients among the 

 trees, on account of its remarkable size. In the city of Popu- 

 lonium, we see a statue of , Jupiter formed of the trunk of a 

 single vine, which has for ages remained proof against all 

 decay ; and at Massilia, there is a patera made of the same 

 wood. At Metapontum, the temple of Juno has long stood 

 supported by pillars formed of the like material ; and even at 

 the present day we ascend to the roof of the temple of Diana at 

 Ephesus, by stairs constructed, it is said, of the trunk of a single 

 vine, that was brought from Cyprus ; the vines of that island 

 often attaining a most remarkable size. There is not a wood in 

 existence of a more lasting nature than this ; I am strongly 

 inclined, however, to be of opinion that the material of which 

 these various articles were constructed was the wild vine. 



CHAP. 3. THE NATURE OF THE GEAPE, AND THE CULTIVATION OP 



THE VINE. 



The cultivated vine is kept down by pruning every year, 

 and all the strength of the tree is drawn as much as possible 

 into the shoots, or else thrown downwards to the sets ; 12 indeed, 

 it is only allowed to expand with the view of ensuring an 

 abundant supply of juice, a result which is obtained in various 

 modes according to the peculiarities of the climate and the 

 nature of the soil. In Campania they attach 13 the vine to the 

 poplar : embracing the tree to which it is thus wedded, the 

 vine grasps the branches with its amorous arms, and as it 

 climbs, holds on with its knotted trunk, till it has reached the 

 very summit ; the height being sometimes so stupendous that 

 the vintager when hired is wont to stipulate for his funeral 

 pile and a grave at the owner's expense. The vine keeps 



11 Theopbrastus reckons it among the trees ; Columella, B. ii., considers 

 it to occupy a middle position between a tree and a shrub. Horace, B. i. 

 Ode 18, calls it a tree, " arbor.' 



12 Or "layers," " propagines." 



13 Nubunt, properly " marry." This is still done in Naples, and other 

 parts of Italy. The use of vine stays there are unknown. 



