Chap. 74.] THE VINTAGE . 107 



in the habit of sprinkling lentils with vinegar scented with 

 laser, 1 ' and, when dry, 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 the ordinary divisions of the year, we 

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

 of the Lyre to the autumnal equinox, and from that to the 

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

 intervals, the more important periods are marked by the rising 

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

 before 17 the ides of August ; upon which day also the Dolphin 

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

 eleventh 18 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 

 colour in the grape. On the fifth 10 before the calends of Sep- 

 tember, the Arrow sets in Assyria, and the Etesian winds cease 

 to blow : on the nones 20 of September, the Vintager rises in 

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

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

 On the fifth before 21 the ides of September, according to Caesar, 

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

 becomes visible on the day before 22 the ides of September, being 

 portentous 23 of boisterous weather for five days, both by land 

 and sea. 



The theory relative to the effects produced by Arcturus, is 

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

 the setting of the Dolphin, they will not cease so long as 

 Arcturus is visible. The departure of the swallows may be 



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



17 Twelfth of August. 18 Twenty-second of August. 



19 Twenty-eighth of August. 20 Fifth of September. 



21 Ninth of September. 22 Twelfth of September. 



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



