BOOK XVII. XXXV. 199-202 



that even so the choicer wines are made from the 

 grapes at the top of the trees, while those lowest 

 down give a large quantity : so beneficial is the effect 

 of height. It is on this principle also that trees are 

 selected : first of all the elm (excepting the Atinian 

 variety because it has too many leaves), then the 

 black poplar, for the same reason, it having less 

 dense foUage ; also the ash and the fig are not 

 despised by most growers, and even the oUve 

 if it has not shady branches. The planting and 

 cultivation of these trees has been abundantly xii. 22 a. 

 treated. It is proliibited to touch them with the ^Xv^.'^v 

 pruning-kniie beiore tney are three years old ; 

 alternate branches are kept, they are pruned every 

 other year, and in their sixth year they are wedded 

 to the vines. Italy north of the Po beside the 

 trees mentioned above plants its vineyards with 

 cornel, guelder rose, Ume, maple, rowan, hornbeam, 

 and oak, but the Venezia uses willow because of the 

 dam])ness of the soil. Also the elm is lopped of its 

 top and has its middle branches spread out on three 

 levels, no tree as a rule being left more than twenty 

 feet high. On hills and in dry lands the stages of 

 the elms are spread out at a height of eight feet, 

 and on plains and in damp locaUties at twelve feet. 

 The branching of the trunk shoukl face south, and the 

 boughs sliould spread up from the foi'k like fingers 

 on the hand, and also have their shaggy growtli of 

 thin twigs shaved off, so as not to give too much 

 shade. The proper space bctween the trees, if the 

 soil is to be ploughed, is forty feet behind and in front 

 and twcnty at the sides, but if it is not to be ploughed, 

 twenty feet every way. Growers often grow ten vines 

 against each tree, great fault being found with a 



139 



