MY VINEYARD. 137 



ous arms, and as it climbs, holds on with its knotted trunk 

 till it has reached the very summit ; the height being 

 sometimes so stupendous that the vintager, when hired, is 

 wont to stipulate for his funeral pile and grave at the 

 owner's expense." 



Yirgil continues his discourse by giving directions for 

 pruning : 



" But in their tender nonage, while they spread 

 Their springing leaves, and lift their infant head. 

 And upwards while they start in open air, 

 Indulge their childhood, and tlie nurselings spare ; 

 Nor exercise thy rage on new-born life ; 

 But let thy hand supply the pruning knife, 

 And crop luxuriant stragglers, nor be loth 

 To strip their branches of their leafy growth. 

 But when the rooted vines with steady hold 

 Can clasp their elms, then husbandman be bold 

 To lop the disobedient boughs that strayed 

 Beyond their rank ; let crooked steel invade 

 The lawless troops, which discipline disclaim, 

 And their superfluous growth with vigor tame." 



Among the ancients the vine was frequently called a 

 tree, an appropriate term so far as the size of many of the 

 plants is concerned. Pliny says that "in Populonium 

 we see a statue of Jupiter formed of the trunk of a single 

 vine, which has for ages remained proof against all decay. 

 At Metapontum, the temple of Juno has long stood sup- 

 ported by pillars formed of the same material ; and even 

 at the present day we ascend to the roof of the temple 

 of Diana by stairs constructed of the trunk of a single 



