BOOK IV. XXI. 3-xxii. 3 



of sufficient length, and if it occupies a suitable place 

 from which the viae should be renewed'' the following 

 year, let it be cut down to a thumb {pollex), which 

 some call custos or " keeper," others resex or " cut- 

 back," and se\era\ praesidiarium or " reserve " — that 

 is, a stub of two or three eyes, from which all of the 

 old arm above is cut off after the fruit-bearing wood 

 has come forth ; and so the vine sprouts out again 

 from the young branch. And this management of 

 well-established vineyards must be constantly ob- 

 served. 



XXII. If, hoAvever, we have taken vineyards trained 

 by another system, and if many years of neglect have 

 now covered the frames, we shall have to consider 

 the length of the old hardened branches that exceed 

 the aforesaid measure. For if they are two feet 

 long or a trifle more, the entire vine may still be put 

 under the frame, provided that the supporting stake 

 is close to the trunk ; for it is moved away from 

 the vine and set exactly in the centre of the space 

 between the two rows, and then the vine is carried 

 across to the prop and so brought under the frame. 

 But if its hardened branches have grown to a greater 

 length, so that they have crept out to the fourth 

 or even to the fifth prop, it is restored at greater 

 expense ; for when propagated by layers — a method 

 which pleases us most — it comes forward very quickly. 

 This, however, if the surface of the trunk is old and ; 

 decayed; ** but if it is strong and sound, it requires 



" revocari, in a technical sense. Cf. Palladiua, III. 12. 4. 



* Cf. Palladius, III. 16. 



* restituitur SA, vett. edd. : restituentur acM, Aid., Gesn. : 

 restituetur Schti. 



^' mergis. his namque, quod vulgo ante Schn. 



403 



