Chap. 4.] VARIETIES OF THE VINE. 225 



try, while elsewhere they are held in no esteem at all. Still, 

 however, in consequence of their remarkable fertility, they 

 make up for quality by abundance : the eugenia thrives in 

 spots which are scorching hot, the Rhsetian vine in places of a 

 more moderate temperature, and the Allobrogian in cold, ex- 

 posed situations, the fruit being of a black colour, and ripened 

 by the agency of frost. 



The wines produced from the vines of which we have 

 hitherto made mention, even though the grapes are black, 

 become, all of them, when old, of a white 49 complexion. The 

 other vines are of no note in particular, though sometimes, 

 thanks to some peculiarity either in the climate or the soil, 

 the wines produced from them attain a mature old age ; such, 

 for instance, as the Fecenian 50 vine, and the Biturigian, 51 which 

 blossoms at the same time with it, but has not so many grapes. 

 The blossoms of these last-mentioned vines are not liable to 

 receive injury, both because they are naturally but transi- 

 tory, and have the power of resisting the action of both wind 

 and storm ; still, however, those that grow in cold spots are 

 considered superior to those produced in a warm site, and those 

 found in moist places superior to those grown in dry, thirsty 

 localities. 



The vine known as the "visula" 52 * * * * more 

 than abundance of fruit, being unable to endure the extreme 

 variations of the atmosphere, though it is very well able to 

 stand a continuation of either cold or heat. Of this last kind 

 the smaller one is the best, but difficult to please in its choice ; 

 in a rich earth it is apt to rot, while in a thin soil it will come 

 to nothing at all : in its fastidiousness it requires a soil of 

 middling quality, and hence it is that it is so commonly found 

 on the hills of the Sabine territory. Its grape is unsightly in 

 appearance, but has a very pleasant flavour : if it is not gathered 

 at the very moment that it is ripe, it will fall} even before it 

 decays. The extreme size of the leaves, and its natural hardi- 



49 I. e., pale straw colour. 



50 It has been supposed that this vine received its name from "faex;" the 

 wine depositing an unusually large quantity of lees. 



51 It is doubtful whether this vine had its name from being grown in 

 the district now called Bourges, or that of Eourdeaux. Dalechamps iden- 

 tifies it with the plant d' Orleans. 



62 The origin of its name is unknown. The text is evidently defective. 



VOL. III. Q 



