Chap. 27.] WINE-VESSELS. 269 



The following are among the rules given for the proper 

 management of wines : — One side of the wine-cellar, or, at 

 all events, the windows, ought to face the north-east, or at least 

 due east. All dunghills and roots of trees, and everything of 

 a repulsive smell, ought to be kept at as great a distance as 

 possible, wine being very apt to contract an odour. Fig-trees 

 too, either wild or cultivated, ought not to be planted in the 

 vicinity. Intervals should also be left between the vessels, 

 in order to prevent infection, in case of any of them turning 

 bad, wine being remarkably apt to become tainted. The 

 shape, too, of the vessels is of considerable importance : those 

 that are broad and bellying 51 are not so good. 52 We find it re- 

 cpmm ended too, to pitch them immediately after the rising of 

 the Dog-star, and then to wash them either with sea or salt 

 water, after which they should be sprinkled with the ashes of 

 tree-shoots or else with potters' earth ; they ought then to be 

 cleaned out, and perfumed with myrrh, a thing which ought 

 to be frequently done to the wine-cellars as well. Weak, 

 thin wines should be kept 53 in dolia sunk in the ground, while 

 those in which the stronger ones are kept should be more ex- 

 posed to the air. The vessels ought on no account to be entirely 

 filled, room being left for seasoning, by mixing either raisin 

 wine or else defrutum flavoured with saffron ; old pitch and 

 sapa are sometimes used for the same purpose. The lids, too, 

 of the dolia ought to be seasoned in a similar manner, with 

 the addition of mastich and Bruttian pitch. 



It is strongly recommended never to open the vessels, ex- 

 cept in fine weather ; nor yet while a south wind is blowing, 

 or at a full moon. 



The flower 54 of wine when white is looked upon as a good 

 sign ; but when it is red, it is bad, unless that should happen 

 to be the colour of the wine. The vessels, too, should not be 

 hot to the touch, nor should the covers throw out a sort of 

 sweat. When wine very soon flowers on the surface and 

 emits an odour, it is a sign that it will not keep. 



As to defrutum and sapa, it is recommended to commence 

 boiling them when there is no moon to be seen, or, in other 



si "Ventruosa." He means "round.'' 52 As oblong ones, probably. 



53 While fermenting, and before racking off. 



54 Flos vini, the Mycoderma vini of Desmazieres, a mould or pellicule 

 which forms on the surface, and afterwards falls and is held in suspension. 



