268 pliny's natural history. [Book XIV. 



to which he gives the name of " tortivum," 45 meaning that 

 which is pressed out the very last of all. For the purpose of 

 colouring wine we also add certain substances as a sort of pig- 

 ment, and these have a tendency to give it a body as well. 

 Ey such poisonous sophistications is this beverage compelled* 

 to suit our tastes, and then we are surprised that it is inju- 

 rious in its effects ! 



It is a proof that wine is beginning to turn bad, if a plate of 

 lead, on being put in it, changes its colour. 46 



CHAP. 26. VINEGAR LEES OF WINE. 



It is a peculiarity of wine, among the liquids, to become 

 mouldy, or else to turn to vinegar. There are whole volumes 

 which treat of the various methods of preventing this. 



The lees of wine when dried will take fire and burn without 

 the addition of fuel : the ashes so produced have very much the 

 nature of nitre, 47 and similar virtues ; the more so, indeed, the 

 more unctuous they are to the touch. 



CHAP. 27. (21.) — WINE- VESSELS — WLNE-CELLARS. 



The various methods of keeping and storing wines in the 

 cellar are very different. In the vicinity of the Alps, they put 

 their wines in wooden vessels hooped around ; 48 during their 

 cold winters, they even keep lighted fires, to protect the wines 

 from the effects of the cold. It is a singular thing to men- 

 tion, but still it has been occasionally seen, that these vessels 

 have burst asunder, and there has stood the wine in frozen 

 masses ; a miracle almost, as it is not ordinarily the nature of 

 wine to freeze, cold having only the effect of benumbing it. 

 In more temperate climates, they place their wines in dolia, 49 

 which they bury in the earth, either covering them entirely or 

 in part, according to the temperature. Sometimes, again, they 

 expose their wines in the open air, while at others they are 

 placed beneath sheds for protection from the atmosphere. 



45 The second " squeezings." 



46 If the wine is turning to vinegar, suhacetate of lead will be formed. 



47 They are tartrates, and have no affinity at all with nitre. 



48 Casks, in fact, similar to those used in France at the present day. In 

 Spain they use earthen jars and the skins of animals. 



49 Oblong earthen vessels, used as vats. 



