BOOK XVII. xxxv. 193-196 



got suitable branches, it is a very good plan to cut it 

 back to the ground and get it to put out new branches, 

 and in trinuning it pavs not to remove the shoots 

 growing with a cluster of grapes, for that dislodges 

 the grapes also, except in a newlv planted vine. 

 Shoots springing on the side of the branch and not 

 from an eye are judged to be of no use, since moreover 

 a bunch of grapes that springs from a hard branch is 

 so stiff that the bunch can only be renioved with a 

 knife. Some people considcr that it pays better for 

 a prop to be set between two vines, and that method 

 does make it easier to turn up the earth round them, 

 and it is better for a vine on a single cross-bar, provided, 

 that is, that the treUis itself is a strong one and the 

 locality is not exposed to high winds. In the case of 

 a vine supported by four cross-rails the stay ought to 

 be as close as possible to the load, although to avoid 

 interfering with digging over the soil it ought to be 

 18 inches away, not more ; but they advise digging 

 over before pruning. 



The following are the instructions given by Cato " Cato on vine- 

 on the whole subject of vine growing: ' Make the ^""""^" 

 vine grow as high as possiblc, and tie it up well, only 

 not binding it too tight. Treat it in the foUowing 

 manner : turn over the earth round the base of 

 the vines during seed-time ; after pruning a vine dig 

 round it and begin to plough ; drive continuous 

 furrows to and fro ; plant layers of young vines as 

 soon as possible, and then harrow the ground. Prune 

 old vincs as little as possiblc ; preferably, if necessary, 

 layer thcm on the ground and cut off the layers two 

 years later. The time for cutting back a young vine 

 wiU be when it has gained strength. If a vineyard 

 has become bare of vines, make furrows between the 



135 



