230 plint's nattjeal histoet. [Book XIV. 



tories of Mevania and Picenum, while the punrala 83 belongs 

 to Amiternum. In the same districts we find the vine called 

 bannanica, 84 which is very deceptive, though the people are 

 remarkably fond of its fruit. The municipal town of Pom- 

 peii has given its name to the Pompeia, 85 although it is to be 

 foimd in greater abundance in the territory of Clusium. The 

 Tiburina, also, is so called from the municipal town of Tibiir, 

 although it is in this district that they have lately discovered 

 the grape known as the " oleaginea," from its strong resem- 

 blance to an olive : this being the very last kind of grape that 

 has been introduced. The Sabines and the Laurentes are the 

 only people acquainted with the vinaciola. 87 As to the vines 

 of Mount Graurus, 88 1 am aware that, as they have been trans- 

 planted from the Palernian territory, they bear the name of 

 "Falernian :" but it is a fact that the Palernian vine, when 

 transplanted, rapidly degenerates. Some persons, too, have 

 made out a Tarentine variety, with a grape of remarkable 

 sweetness : the grapes of the " capnios," 89 the " bucconiatis," 90 

 and the "tarrupia," grow on the hills of Thurii, and are 

 never gathered till after the frost commences. Pisae enjoys 

 the Parian vine, and Mutina the prusinian, 91 with a black 

 grape, the wine of which turns pale within four years. It is 

 a very remarkable thing, but there is a grape here that turns 

 round with the sun, in its diurnal motion, a circumstance from 

 which it has received the name of " strep tos." 92 In Italy, the 



sun, common in Italy, and more particularly in the Valley of Bevagna, the 

 Mevania of Pliny, are made. 



83 Perhaps from "pumilio," a dwarf. 



84 The " royal" vine, according to Poinsinet, who would derive it from 

 the Sclavonic "ban." 



85 Previously mentioned, p. 228. 



86 The residence of Horace, now Tivoli. 



87 Baccius says that the wine of this grape was thin like water, and that 

 the vine was trained on lofty trees, a mode of cultivation still followed in 

 the vicinity of Rome. Laurentum was situate within a short distance of 

 it, near Ostia. 



S8 See B. hi. c. 9. 



89 So called from the smoky or intermediate colour of its grapes. Pee 

 suggests that this may be the slow-ripening grape of France, called the 

 " verjus," or " rognon de coq." 



90 Possibly meaning the " mouthful." 



91 Perhaps so called from Prusa in Bithynia, a district which bore ex- 

 cellent grapes. 



92 Or the " turning " grape. A fabulous story no doubt, originating in 



