Chap. 74.] THE VINTAGE . 107 



in the habit of sprinkling lentils with vinegar scented ^ith 

 laser/* and, when drj', giving them a covering of oil. But 

 the most effectual method of all is to get in everything 

 that you would preserve from injury at the time of the 

 moon's conjunction ; and hence it is of the greatest impor- 

 tance to know, when getting in the harvest, whether it is 

 for garnering or whether for immediate sale. If cut during the 

 increase of the moon, grain will increase in size. 



CHAP. 74. (31.) THE VINTAGE, AND THE WORKS OF AUTUMN". 



In accordance with tlie ordinary divisions of the year, we 

 aow come to autumn, a period which extends from the setting 

 )f the Lyre to the autumnal equinox, and from that to the 

 netting of the Vergiliae and the beginning of winter. In these 

 .ntervals, the more important periods are marked by the rising 

 )f the Horse to the people of Attica, in the evening of the day 

 Defore ^' the ides of August ; upon which day also the Dolpliin 

 sets in Egypt, and, according to Csesar, in Italy. On the 

 3leventh ^** before the calends of September, the star called the 

 Vintager begins to rise in the morning, according to Caesar's 

 reckoning, and to the people of Assyria : it announces the 

 ripening of the vintage, a sure sign of which is the change of 

 3olour in the grape. On the fifth ^^ before the calends of Sep- 

 ■ ember, the Arrow sets in Assyria, and the Etesian winds cease 

 10 blow : on the nones -*^ of September, the Vintager rises in 

 Egypt, and in the morning of that day, Arcturus rises to the 

 jeople of Attica : on the same morning, too, the Arrow sets. 

 3n the fifth before ^^ the ides of September, according to Caesar, 

 ;he She-Goat rises in the evening ; and one half of Arcturus 

 Decomes visible on the day before^' the ides of September, being 

 Dortentous ^^ of boisterous weather for five days, both by land 

 ind sea. 



The theory relative to the effects produced by Arcturus, is 

 stated in the following terms : if showers prevail, it is said, at 

 he setting of the Dolphin, the)^ will not cease so long as 

 ircturus is visible. The departure of the swallows may be 



" See B. xix. c. 15: also Columella, De Re Rust. B. ii. c. 10. 

 '' Twelfth of August. '^ Twenty-second of August, 



^^ Twenty-eightli of August. 20 Fifth of September. 



21 Ninth of September. 22 Twelfth of September. 



23 See the Rudens of Plautus, Prol. 1. 69. 



