BOOK III. n. 20-24 



not bothered by heat. Next after these are the 21 

 Visula "■ and the smaller Argitis,* which thrive in 

 ground of middling quality ; for they make a rank 

 gro'\\i;h in rich ground because of their excessive 

 vigour, while in lean ground they grow spindling 

 and are devoid of fruit. They have a greater fond- 

 ness for the trellis than for trees, though the Argitis 

 is productive even on high supports and makes a 

 luxuriant growth of wood and grape clusters. The 22 

 A'isula, better suited to very low frames, makes little 

 wood but tough and broad leaves, whose size affords 

 the fruit very good protection against hail ; but if 

 this is not gathered as soon as it is ripe, it falls to 

 the ground ; and in wet weather it rots even before 

 it falls off. There are also the Helvolans," which 23 

 some call variae (variegated) ; they are neither purple 

 nor black, and get their name, if I mistake not, from 

 their dun (hehus) shade. The one which is more 

 nearly black is the better as to quantity of ^^ine, 

 while the other is more highly prized in the matter 

 of flavour. In neither of them does the colour of 

 the berries appear to be unifoi-m. Both \ield white 

 must in greater or smaller quantity ever}'^ year. 

 They make a better covering on a tree, though doing 

 well on a trellis. They are productive also in mediocre 

 soil, as are the smaller and larger Pretians.*^ But 

 the latter are commended more highly for the 

 quality of their wdne, and they put forth much wood 

 and foUage and ripen quickly. The Albuelis,*^ as 24 

 Celsus says, is more profitable on a hill than on a 

 plain ; on a tree than on a trellis ; and at the top 



* Vergil, Georg. II. 99-100. Argitisque minor, cui non certa- 

 verit ulla I Aut tantum fiuere aut todde^n durarc per annos. 

 Pliny, N.H. XIV. 29. " Ibid. 31. 



245 



