BOOK XVIII. Lxxiv. 317-320 



and by means of levers : but within the last hundred 

 years the Grcek pattern of press has been inventcd, 

 with the grooves of the upright beani running spirally, 

 some makers fitting the tree with a star, but with 

 othcrs the tree raises with it boxes of stones, an 

 arrangcment which is very highly approved. Within 

 the last twcntv ycars a plan has been invented to 

 usc small prcsses and a smaller pressing-shed, with 

 a shortcr upright beam running straight down into 

 thc middle, and to press down the drums placed on 

 top of the grape-skins with the whole weight and to 

 pile a heap of stones abovc the presses. This is also 

 the time for ffathcrinfj fruit ; one should watch when 

 any falls off owing to ripeness and not because of 

 windy wcathcr. This is also the scason for pressing 

 out the lees of wine and for boiHng down grape-juice, 

 on a night when there is no moon, or, if done in the 

 day time, it should be at fuU moon, or on any other 

 davs either before the moon rises or after it sets ; 

 and thc grapes should not be obtained from a y6ung 

 vine nor from one growing on marshv ground ; and 

 only a ripe bunch should be used. It is thought that 

 if wood is brought in contact with the vesscl, the 

 liquor gets a burnt and smoky flavour. The proper 

 time for the vintagc is the period of 44 days from the 

 equinox to the setting of thc Plciads ; we meet with 

 a wise saying of growers who hold that from that day 

 onward it is no good at all to tar a cold wine-]>utt. 

 Still, before now I have seen vintagers at work even 

 on the first of January owing to shortage of vats, 

 and must being stored in tanks, or last year's wine 

 being poured out of the casks to make room for new 

 wine of doubtful quality. This is not so often due 

 to an over-abundant crop as to slackness, or else to 



389 



