100 PLINY'S NATUEAL HISTORY. [Book XVIII. 



May, as already mentioned on previous occasions. 70 This, again, 

 is another period of four days, which should never be blemished 

 by dews, as the chilling constellation of Arc turns, which sets 

 on the following dajr, will be sure to nip the vegetation ; still 

 less ought there to be a full moon at this period. 



On the fourth before 71 the nones of June, the Eagle rises 

 again in the evening, a critical day for the olives and vines in 

 blossom, if there should happen to be a full moon. For my 

 part, I am of opinion that the eighth 72 before the calends of 

 July, the day of the summer solstice, must be a critical day, for 

 a similar reason ; and that the rising of the Dog-star, twenty- 

 three days after the summer solstice, must be so too, in case 

 the moon is then in conjunction ; for the excessive heat is pro- 

 ductive of injurious effects, and the grape becomes prematurely 

 ripened, shrivelled, and tough. Again, if there is a full moon 

 on the fourth before 73 the nones of July, when Canicula rises 

 to the people of Egypt, or at least on the sixteenth be- 

 fore 74 the calends of August, when it rises in Italy, it is pro- 

 ductive of injurious results. The same is the case, too, from 

 the thirteenth day before 75 the calends of August, when the 

 Eagle sets, to the tenth before 76 the calends of that month. 

 The Second Yinalia, which are celebrated on the fourteenth 77 

 before the calends of September, bear no reference to these in- 

 fluences. Yarro fixes them at the period at which the Lyre 

 begins its morning setting, and says that this indicates the be- 

 ginning of autumn, the day having been set apart for the pur- 

 pose of propitiating the weather : at the present day, however, 

 it is observed that the Lyre sets on the sixth before 78 the ides 

 of August. 



Within these periods there are exerted the sterilizing in- 

 fluences of the heavens, though I am far from denying that 

 they may be considerably modified by the nature of the locality, 

 according as it is cold or hot. Still, however, it is sufficient for 

 me to have demonstrated the theory ; the modifications of its re- 

 sults depending, in a great degree, upon attentive observation. 

 It is beyond all question too, that either one of these two causes 



70 In B. xvi. c. 42, and in c. 66 of this Book. 



71 Second of June. 72 Twenty-fourth of June. 

 73 Fourth of July. u Seventeenth of July. 



75 Twentieth of July. 76 Twenty-third of July. 



77 Nineteenth of August. 78 Eighth of August. 



