BOOK X\II. XXXV. 170-173 



inost advantageous if there is no wind on the day for 

 planting, and though many growers like a south 

 wind, Cato disapproves of this. xl. 1. 



The space between every two vines in a soil of spadng. 

 medium density should be five feet, and in a rich 

 soil four feet at least, and in a thin soil eight feet at 

 most — growers in Umbria and Marsia leave a space 

 of up to twenty feet to allow of ploughing between 

 the rows, in the case of the vineyards for Mhich the 

 local name is ' ridged fields ' ; vines should be planted 

 further apart in a rainy and misty district but closer 

 together in a dry one. Elaborate econorny has dis- 

 covered a way of saving space, whcn planting a vine- 

 yard on ground that has been well dug over, by 

 making a nursery-bed at the same time, so that while 

 the quickset is planted in the place it is to occupy, 

 the mallet-shoot is also planted, so that it may be 

 transplanted between the vines as well as between 

 the rows of props ; this plan gives about 16,000 quick- 

 sets in an acre of ground, while it makes a difference 

 of two years' fruit, as a planted quickset bcars two 

 years later than a transplanted mallet-shoot. 



A quicksct placed in a vineyard after tvvo years is Qukkset!' 

 cut back right down to the ground, leaving only one 

 eye above the surface ; a stake is fixed close to the 

 plant, and dung is added. In the foUowing year also 

 it is again loppcd in a similar way, and it acquires and 

 fosters within it sufiicient strength to bear the burden 

 of reproduction. Otherwise in its hurry to bear it 

 would slioot up sHm and meagre like a buh'ush and 

 unless it wcre rcstrained with the pruning described 

 would spend itself entirely on growth. No tree sprouts 

 more eagerly than the vine, and unless its strength 

 is kept for bearing, it turns cntircly into growth. 



119 



