The Vineyard, the Vintage, and the Making of Wine iu the Ancient Orient. 63 



the poles with long sticks and drew them together, binding 

 them with willows '. Generall}' cane-reeds, but sometimes also 

 more expensive \\ooden staves (V1p"n i- e., ftoKdpiov), which 

 were pointed below and notched above, were used for espa- 

 liers. The vinestalks, that were raised on espaliers, stood in 

 straight, sometimes also quadratic rows. In order to get 

 a straight line, a cord ('Jin) was stretched alongside the 

 vines and the branches were entwined on the stalks and the 

 cord. The vineyard was plowed two to three times a year, 

 or worked with the hoe-. The foliage was carefully pruned 

 and the superfluous shoots broken off"*. The vines were 

 often multiplied by means of props'*, but the Hebrews 

 must certainly have known also the way to propagate the 

 vines by means of shoots. Only the latter practise would 

 explain the acquittal from military service, which would 

 have taken on too great proportions, if such acquittal had 

 been given to every one who had made some props or 

 who had made a layer, in order to replenish the gaps caused 

 by the withering of the old vinestalks. It seems clear, 

 that this acquittal could only be granted to those, who 

 actually had planted a new vineyard, for which they, of course, 

 needed shoots ^ In some instances vineyards were attached 

 to the houses of a city or village. These vineyards were 

 greatly prized as being accessible and enjoyable at all seasons 

 of the year^. Those vineyards which lay a considerable 

 distance off from the villages, contained not infrequenth' 

 a summer cottage for their owners. The family would com- 

 mence to occupy it in spring, at the time of the digging of 

 the vineyards and again later at the time of the vintage. The 

 custom of remaining throughout the summer season in these 

 cottages also prevailed '. The cutting of the vines was for- 



climbing vines produce a much larger fruit, which also keeps longer on 

 account of the thicker skin. 



i) Mishna, Kilaim. 2) Is. 5, 6. 



3) Is. 2, 4; 5, 6; 18, 5; Mi. 4, 3. 4) Mishna, Kilaim. 



3) The fact, that he who planted a new vineyard, should be free from 

 military service until its dedication , which occured possibly at the fourth year 

 (Deut. 20, 6), shows the high estimation of the Hebrews for the culture of vine. 



6) I. Kings 21,1. 7) Amos 3, 15. 



