BOOK V. V. 17-VI. I 



such a distance that, as it Ues on the ground, it does 

 not reach beyond the space between the rows. Nor 18 

 is there a great difference between the pruning of a 

 recumbent vine and of one which stands upright, 

 except that the firm-wood branches in the vine which 

 Hes on the ground should be allowed to grow to a 

 shorter length and the stumps ought to be left 

 narrower so as to resemble knobs. But after the prun- 

 ing, which in this kind of vine ought naturally to be 

 carried out in the autumn, the whole vine is bent 

 aside into one of the two spaces between the rows ; and 

 the part which was previously occupied is either dug 

 up or ploughed, and when it has been thoroughly 

 cultivated, it receives the same vine back again, so 

 that the other space may also be cultivated. About 19 

 the trimming of this kind of vineyard, there is little 

 agreement between the authorities. Some say that 

 the vine ought not to be stripped, that it may the 

 better conceal the fruit from injury by the wind and 

 by wild beasts ; others hold that it should be 

 trimmed only sparingly, so that the vine may not be 

 wholly burdened with superfluous leaves and yet 

 may be able to cover or conceal the fruit. The latter 

 method seems to me too to be the more expedient. 



VI. We have now said enough about vines ; we Plantations 

 must now give directions about trees." He who wishes po^rt of ^'^^' 

 to have a thick and profitable plantation for support- vines. 

 ing vines with the trees set at equal distances from 

 one another will take care that it does not grow sparse 

 because the trees have died and will be careful to 

 remove any tree as soon as it is aflSicted with old 

 age or damaged by storm and substitute a young 

 growth in its place. This he will easily be able to 

 achieve if he has a nursery for elms ready prepared. 



43 



