BOOK III. II. 2-6 



nian ; '^ and not only those that can be recommended 2 

 for agreeableness of flavoui*, but also those whose 

 appearance can commend them, such as the 

 Stephanitan (coronaiy),'' the Tripedanean (three-foot 

 kind),'' the Unciai-ian (ounce-weight),"^ and the 

 Cydonitan (quince-grape) ; '^ likewise those vines 

 whose grapes keep well in winter and are stored 

 in jars, as the Venuculan,/ and the Numisian, 

 which has recently been proved for this purpose. 

 But when our interest is in the wine, a vine is 3 

 selected which is both heavy in yield and strong 

 in wood, because the one contributes greatly to 

 the income of the husbandman, and the other to 

 the durability of the stock. But such a vine is 4 

 especially good if it does not put forth leaves too 

 quickly, if also it casts its flowers very early in the 

 season and does not ripen too slowly ; moreover, if 

 it easily withstands frosts and fog and blight, does 

 not rot in rainy weather, and does not shrivel up in 

 times of drought. A vine of this sort, though only 5 

 moderately fruitful, should be our choice, if only we 

 have a piece of ground where the flavour of the wine 

 is distinguished and costly ; for if it is of poor quality 

 or low in price, it is best to plant the most prolific 

 vines, so that our revenues may be increased by the 

 greater quantity of the yield. Moreover, in nearly 6 

 every type of place chainpaign slopes produce the 

 larger quantity of wine, but hill lands the better 

 flavoured ; and in a temperate cUmate hills that 

 slope to the north are more productive, while those 

 >vith a southern exposure yield a superior quahty. 



f Also called Sirculan; sec. 27, below, and Pliny, N.H. 

 XIV. 34. On their preserving qualities see XII. 45. 1 ; Pliny, 

 loc. cit. ; Horace, Serm. II. 4. 71. 



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