II] OF MILK AND WOOL 235 



shorn here about the time of the barley harvest, in 



8 other places before hay cutting. Some shear them 

 twice within the year — as is the case in Hither 

 Spain — that is, every six months, putting in double 

 work with the idea of getting more wool, just as 

 some people mow their meadows twice. The more 

 thrifty farmers shear their sheep on little mats, to 



9 avoid the loss of any wisps of wool. Fine weather 

 is chosen for the work, which then goes on roughly 

 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. For when the sheep 

 is sheared when the sun is hot its wool is softer, 

 heavier, and better coloured, owing to the sweat. 

 This wool, removed from the sheep and piled 

 together, is called by some vellera (fleeces), by 

 others velamina. From this word vellera it may be 

 inferred that in the matter of wool, plucking was 

 invented before clipping. Those who even now 

 "pluck" keep their sheep fasting for three days 

 before, for when they are without strength the 



10 roots of the wool come away more easily. Hair- 

 cutters ' are said first to have come to Italy in 300 



sheep with the owner's name. Cf. Calpurnius (Eel. v, 82) : 



. . . Coquito lentumque bitumen aheno 

 Impressurus ovi tua nomina : nam tibi lites 

 Auferet ingentes lectus possessor in armo. 



(quoted by Schneider). 



' Tonsores. Pliny (vii, 59) states the same fact, using Varro 

 as his authority. He adds that Scipio Africanus the younj^er 

 was the first who had himself shaved every day. After him the 

 practice became general until the time of Hadrian, who let his 



