BOOK XVII. xi.vii. 266-267 



of the tree with lupin pounded with oil. Many 



people kill ants and also moles with the dregs of 



oHve oil, and to protect the tops of the trees against 



caterpillars and pests productive of decay they advise 



toucliing them with the gall of a green Uzard, but 



as a protection against caterpiHars in particuhir they 



say that a woman just beginning her monthly 



courses should walk round each of the trees with 



bare feet and her girdle undone. Also to prevent 



any creature from injuring the foHage by noxious 



nibbling they recommend sprinkHng the leaves with 



cow-dung mixed with water every time there is a 



show er of rain, as the rain smears the poison of the 



mixture over the tree : so remarkable are some of 



the devices invented by human skill, inasmuch as 



most people beUeve that hailstorms can be averted 



by means of a charm, the words of which I would 



not for my own part venture seriously to introduce 



into my book, althouoh Cato has pubHshed the words clx, 



GKXXI2 

 of a charm for sprained Hmbs which have to be 



bandaged to reed splints. The same author has 



allowed the fehing of consecrated trees and groves 



after a preHminary sacrifice has been performed, the 



ritual of which and the accompanying prayer he has 



reported in the same volume. 



185 



