34*5 On the Changes of Temperature and Soil, &c. 



It is not merely in modern times, and fince the improve- 

 inent ofqatural phiiofophy, that this change of temj^erature 

 and foil has beta remarked. A great number of places, well 

 known and defcribed by the ancients, in Paleftinc, Syria, 

 Lefler Afia, Greece, Italy, Spain, and Barbary, exhibit proofs 

 of the changes which have taken place in the foil and tempe- 

 rature in the courfe of time. Every one knows their prefent 

 dr)' and barren Hate, which feems to be pall remedy. It is fo 

 contrary to that in which they were formerly, according to 

 all the defcriptions of them left us by Greek and Roman 

 authors, tliat it is impoffible for us to afcribe this difference 

 merely to the inclination of the ancients for exaggeration * : 

 the clear and precife facls, which various celebrated authors 

 have mcnuoned refpecting them, will not allow of fo abfurd 

 a fuppofition. Ovid fays that, in his time. Lower Maefia, 

 to which he was banilhed, produced neither vines nor fruit- 

 trees. 



Nam procul a Getico littorc v'nis, 



Nam procul a Geticis finibus. arbor abeft. 



Strabo, who was a few years later than Ovid, fpeaking of 

 vine plants in the Thracian Bofphorus, fays, that in winter 

 it was neceflary to bury them under tbe earth in order to 

 preferve them. Not long after, it was ohferved by Pompo- 

 nius Mela and Pliny the elder, in fpeaking of Thrace, that 

 there were fcarcely any fruit-trees in that country, and that 

 in winter it was neceffaiy to cover them with dung. Mel^ 

 adds, that the vines ofteri grew there, but that the grapes 

 never ripened \. Columella is the firll; author who fpeaks 

 of vines in Gaul ; and he fays that the Sabines and the Ro- 

 mans in the preceding century had procured, amidfl; the de- 

 vallaiion of war, more abundant crops than had been pro- 

 cured in his time during a llate of perfect peace. But no- 



* Vo'taire pays this compliment to the authors of the Bible in regard 



-to Paleftine. 



+ Vittm fretjuemius tolerat, fed nee ejus (juidum fru6tus maturat ac 



roitigat. 



tbin^ 



