BOOK XVIII. Lix. 222-i..\. 225 



periods are also divided by particular ruoments of 

 time, all of them at midday — since between the 

 solstice and the autumnal equinox the setting of the 

 Lyre on the 46th dav marks the beginning- of autumn, 

 and from that equinox to midwinter the morning 

 setting of the Pleiads on the 44th day marks that of 

 winter, and between midwinter and the equinox the 

 prevalence of a west wind on the 45th day marks tlie 

 period of spring, and the morning rising of the Pleiads 

 on the 47th day from the spring equinox marks the 

 beginning of summer. We will start from sowing-time 

 of wheat, that is from the morning setting of the 

 Pleiads ; and we need not interrupt our explanation 

 and increase the difficulty of the subject by mention- 

 ing the minor stars, inasmuch as it is at the same 

 date that the stormy constellation of Orion sets after 

 its extensive course. 



LX. Most people anticipate the times for sowing, signsofihe 

 and begin to sow corn at the eleventh day of the Zwi!tg/"' 

 autumnal equinox, as for nine days after the rising 

 of the Crown there is an almost certain expectation 

 of rain. But Xenophon tells us not to begin before Oec. 17. 2. 

 the Deity has given the signal — this our Roman 

 author Cicero " understood as being done by a fall 

 of rain ; although the true method is not to sow 

 before the leaves have begun to fall. Some think 

 that this occurs exactly at the setting of the Pleiads 

 on November 10, as we have said, and even clothes- ^i- 125. 

 dealers go by that constellation,'' and it is very easy 

 to identify in the sky ; consequcntly dealers out 

 to make money, who are careful to watch for chances, 

 make forecasts as to the winter from its setting : thus 

 by a cloudy setting it foretells a wet winter, and they 

 at once raise thcir prices for cloaks, whereas by a 



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