BOOK V. V. 4-7 



way the vine is forced to drive its roots downwards. 

 I shall not deny that this can be done with advantage 

 in dry places ; but where either the district is marshy 

 or the climate rainy, I am of opinion that it should 

 certainly not be done, for excessive moisture standing 

 in the half-filled plant-holes kills the plants before 

 they can gain strength. Therefore I think that it 

 is more expedient that the plant-holes should be 

 filled up again after the vine-stock has been put 

 into them, but, when the plants have taken root, 

 immediately after the autumn equinox, the soil round 

 them ought to be carefully dug up " to a good depth 

 and, after the rootlets which they may have put forth 

 on the surface of the ground have been cut away, the 

 earth ought to be filled in again after a few days. 

 In this way two inconveniences will be avoided ; 

 firstly, the roots are not drawn to the upper part of 

 the soil, and, secondly, the plants will not be troubled 

 by excessive rains while they are still weak. When, 

 however, they have become quite strong, there is no 

 doubt that they are greatly benefited by the rains 

 from heaven ; and so, in places where the mildness 

 of the winter allows it, it will be expedient to leave 

 the vines uncovered and to keep the soil round them 

 loose the whole winter. 



As regards the sort of vine-plants, the 

 authorities are not agreed amongst themselves. 

 Some think that it is better to plant a vineyard with 

 mallet-shoots from the first, others think that it 

 should be planted with quick-sets ; I have already 

 stated my opinion in the earlier part of this work.^ 

 However, I now add this further point, that there are 

 some lands where vines which have been transplanted 

 do not answer as well as those which have not been 



33 



VOL. II. c 



