I] OF TIMES AND SEASONS 69 



Said Agrius to Fundanius: I am afraid the 

 temple-keeper will be here before our friend gets 

 to the fourth act. I am waiting for the vintage. 

 Don't be afraid, said Scrofa, but get ready the 

 baskets and the urn.' 



CHAPTER XXVII 



OF TIMES AND SEASONS 



Now we have two measures of time: the year 

 created by the sun's annual revolution, and the 

 month which the revolving moon determines. I 

 will first speak of the sun. Its annual course is, to 

 begin with, roughly divided into four parts of about 

 *hree months each, or more accurately into eight 

 : a month and a half: into four, for its divisions 

 are spring, summer, autumn, and winter. 



As to the spring sowing, the unploughed land 

 must first be broken up, so that weeds which have 

 sprung up in it may be uprooted before any seed 

 can fall, and at the same time the clods must be made 

 better able to absorb the rainfall by being baked 

 by the sun, and, so loosened, made easier to work. 

 It should be ploughed at least twice, or, better still, 

 three times. In summer the harvest is to be reaped ; 

 in autumn, during the dry weather, the vintage to 

 be made; then is the best time for treating your 



' Uma. Vessel holding half an amphora^ i.e., about three 

 and a half gallons. 



