BOOK IV. V. i-vi. 3 



frequent it is, the more beneficial is the digging. 

 But, since consideration for expenses demands some 

 limit, it has seemed sufficient to most people to dig 

 newly planted vineyards every thirtieth day from the 

 Calends of March " up to October, and to root out all 

 weeds and especially grasses ; for these, unless pulled 

 out by hand and thrown on the surface, return to life 

 when any least part of them is covered with earth, 

 and so scald the vine-plants as to make them scaly 

 and shrivelled. 



VI. Furthermore, whether we have planted cut- 

 tings or quicksets, it is best to train the vines 

 from the beginning in such a way as to remove 

 superfluous growth by frequent leaf-pruning, not 

 allowing them to bestow their strength and all 

 their nourishment upon more than one branch of 

 firm wood.* Yet two shoots are allowed to grow at 

 first, that one may be a reserve if the other should 

 happen to die. Later, when the green branches have 2 

 hardened somewhat, one of each pair is removed. 

 And that those which are left may not be beaten off 

 by squalls of wind, it will be best to follow them up, 

 as they grow, with a soft and loose band, until they 

 catch hold of their props with their tendrils as though 

 with hands.*' If shortage of workmen prevents the 3 

 carrying out of this kind of labour in the case of the 



* Palladius, VI. (May) 2, gives similar instructions for the 

 trimming away of useless foliage {panipinatio), and adds, like 

 Columella (IV. 7. 1), that the task should be performed at a 

 time when the young twigs snap easily with pressure of the 

 fingers. Cf. Varro, R.R. I. 31. 2 ; Col. IV. 27. 6, 28. 1, with 

 note. 



' Cf. Cicero, De Sen. 15. 52, Vitis quidem, qiiae natura caduca 

 est et, nisifuLta est,fertur ad terrain, eadem, ut se erigat claviculia 

 auis quasi nianibus, quicquid est nacta, complect itur. 



