Chap. 2.] THE INFLUENCE OF WEATHER ON TREES. 445 



The winds are also a very important consideration. In the 

 provinces of Gallia Narbonensis, and in Liguria and part of 

 Etruria, it is considered a proof of great want of skill to plant 

 the vine on a site that lies in the teeth of the wind Circius, 20 

 while, on the other hand, it is a mark of prudence to catch 

 its breezes in an oblique direction ; it is this wind, in fact, 

 that modifies the heat in those countries, though at the same 

 time it is usually so violent, as to sweep away the roofs of 

 the houses. 



(3.) There are some persons who employ a method of making 

 the question of weather dependent upon the nature of the soil ; 

 thus in the case of a vineyard, for instance, in* a dry locality, 

 they give it an eastern or a northern aspect ; but where it is 

 planted on a humid site, it is made to face the south. Prom 

 the varieties of the vine also, they borrow various modifica- 

 tions in reference to site ; taking care to plant the early vine 

 in a cold locality, in order that the fruit may ripen before the 

 frosts come on ; while such fruit trees and vines as have an anti- 

 pathy to dews are exposed to the east, that the sun may carry 

 off their humidity at the earliest moment. On the other hand, 

 such as manifest a partiality to dews are planted with a western 

 or even a northern aspect, to give them an opportunity of en- 

 joying them all the longer. Others, again, borrowing their 

 notions pretty nearly from Nature, have recommended that 

 vines and trees should be planted facing the north-east ; indeed 

 Democritus is of opinion, that by so doing the fruit will 

 be all the more odoriferous. 



(4.) We have already spoken, in the Second Book, 27 of the 

 points of the north-east and other winds, and shall have occa- 

 sion in the succeeding one to make mention of several more of 

 the heavenly phenomena. In the mean time, however, we 

 may observe that it would appear to be a manifest proof of the 

 salubrity of a north-east site, that the leaves are always the 

 first to fall in the trees that have an aspect towards the south. 28 

 A similar reason exists, too, in the maritime districts ; in 

 certain localities the sea breezes are detrimental, though in 

 most they are nutritious. For some plants, again, it is pleasant 

 to behold the sea at a distance, while at the same time they 



26 See B. ii. c. 46. 27 Cc. 46 and 47. 



28 He seems to lose sight cf the fact that they bud before those that look 

 to the north. 



