Chap. 35.J CULTURE Or THE VINE. 511 



Tine is old, take care and prune it as little as possible. In 

 preference, bend the vine into the ground for layers, if neces- 

 sary, and cut it at the end of two years. The proper time for 

 cutting the young vine, is when it has gained sufficient 

 strength. If the vineyard is bald of vines, then draw furrows 

 between them, and plant quicksets there : but let no shadow 

 be thrown on the furrows, and take care and dig them often. 

 If the vineyard is old, sow ocinuni 50 there, in case the trees are 

 meagre : but take care and sow there nothing that bears seed. 

 Put manure, chaff, and grape-husks about the roots, or, in- 

 deed, anything of a similar nature that will give the tree ad- 

 ditional strength. As soon as the vine begins to throw out 

 leaves, set about clearing them. Fasten the young trees in 

 more places than one, so that the stem may not break. As 

 soon as it begins to run along the stay, fasten down the young 

 branches lightly, and extend them, in order that they may gain 

 the right position. When the grape begins to be mottled, 

 then tie down the vine. The first season for grafting the vine 

 is the spring, the other when the grape is in blossom ; the last 

 period is the best. If it is your wish to transplant an old 

 vine, you will only be able to do so in case it is no thicker than 

 the arm : first, however, you must prune it, taking care not to 

 have more than two buds upon the stem. Then dig it well up 

 by the roots, being careful to trace them, and using every 

 possible precaution not to injure them. Place it in the hole or 

 furrow exactly in the position in which it has stood before, 

 then cover it with earth, which should be well trodden down. 

 You must then prop it up, fasten it, and turn it in the same 

 direction as before ; after which, dig about it repeatedly." The 

 ocinum that Cato here recommends to be sown in the vine- 

 yards, is a fodder known by that name by the ancients ; it 

 thrives in the shade remarkably well, and received its name 51 

 from the rapidity with which it grows. 



(23.) We come now to speak of the method of growing 

 vines upon trees, 52 a mode that has been condemned 53 in the 

 strongest terms by the Saserna's, both father and son, and up- 



50 A sort of clover, probably. See B. xviii. c. 42, and a few lines 

 below. 



51 From the Greek wKswg, "quickly" — Yarro says. 



52 See c. 15 of this Book. 



53 It is still practised in Dauphine and the department of the Basses 

 Alpes. It is very prevalent, also, in the South of Italy. 



