BOOK XVIII. LxxAi. 326-329 

 LXX\'I. After observinff the position of sunrise Obsnvation 



J , . 1 . 1 i • 1 1 _ ofthe icinds 



on any given day, let people stand at midday so as to to reguiate 

 have the point of sunrise at their left shoulder : T''^ '" '"^ 



.1 L .11 1 1 11. 1 /. aone to trees 



tnen they wiU have the south du-ectly in front of 



them and the north directly behind them ; a path 



running through a field in this way will be called a 



cardinal hne. It is better then to turn round, so as 



to be able to see your own shadow, which will other- 



wise be behind you. So, liaving interchanged your 



flanks, so as to have the sunrise of that day at your 



right shoulder and the sunset at your left, it will be 



midday when your shadow directly in front of you 



becomes smallest. Through the middle of the length 



of this shadow you will have to draw a furrow with a 



hoe or make a Une with ashes let us sav 20 ft. long, 



and at the centre of this Hne, that is 10 ft. from each 



end, to draw a small circle, which may be called the 



umhilicus or navel. The part of the hne towards 



the head of the shadow will be in the direction of 



the north wind. You who prune trees, do not let the 



cut ends of them face in that direction, nor should 



trees carrying vines or vines themselves do so except 



in the province of Africa, in the Cyrenaica and in 



Egypt ; when the wind is in that quarter, do not 



plough or perform any of the other operations we § 334. 



shall mention. The part of the Une towards the 



feet of the shadow, facing south, will indicate the 



south wind, the Greek name of which is as wc said ^i- n»- 



Notus : when the wind comes from that quarter, 



husbandman, do not deal with timber or the vine. 



For Italy this is a damp wind or else extremely hot, 



— indeed for Africa it brings fiery heat together with 



fine weather. In Italy bearing branches should face 



in this direction, but not the pruncd branches of 



395 



