BOOK IV. viii. 3-x. I 



\\'inter prevents our doing this, the above-mentioned 

 hollows must be levelled off before the Ides of Decem- 

 ber." In fact, if there is a suspicion of extremely cold 

 Vv'eather for that region, you will spread some stable- 

 dung or, if more convenient, some pigeon dung 

 over the roots before you bury the vine ; or you will 

 pour over them six sextarii of stale urine previously 

 made ready for such use. But it will be necessaiy to 4 

 ablaqueate the vine every autumn for the first five 

 years, until it grows strong. However, when the 

 main stem has come to maturity, this task may be 

 omitted for about three-year intervals ; for the lower 

 parts * of the vine receive less injury from the iron, 

 and small roots do not shoot out so rapidly, now that 

 the stock has become old. 



IX. Ablaqueation is then followed by pruning, in 

 such a manner that the vine is reduced to one small 

 rod, according to the directions of ancient authorities, 

 leaving two eyes close to the ground. This pruning 

 should not be done next to the joint, lest the eye 

 be checked in its growth ; but an oblique cut is 

 made with the knife about midway between the joints, 

 lest, if it be crosswise, the scar may hold the rain that 

 falls upon it. But the slope is made, not toward the 2 

 side where the bud is, but to the opposite side, so 

 that it may shed its tears upon the ground rather 

 than upon the bud. For the sap that flows down from 

 it blinds the eye and does not allow it to grow."^ 



X. There are two seasons for pruning ; but the 

 better time, as Mago says, is in the spring, before 

 the shoot puts forth its buds, because, being full of 



Dec. 13th. * Lit. the legs, 



' Cf. Pliny, N.H. XVII. 192. 



375 



