BOOK V. VI. 32-36 



has some bud left, it should not be entirely removed, 

 since in the following year it will produce an even 

 stronger firm-wood branch from a single bud. Shoots 33 

 are called " precipitated " which, sprung from rods 

 one year old, are tied to the hard wood. These bear 

 fruit very freely but do much damage to the mother- 

 vine ; and so a shoot ought not to be " precipitated " 

 except from the ends of the branches or if the vine has 

 surmounted the top of the tree. If, however, any- 34 

 one wishes to let this kind of stem grow freely for the 

 sake of the fruit, let him twist the shoot, and then 

 tie it in that position and bend it over ; for it will put 

 forth flourishing firm-wood behind the point at which 

 you have twisted it, and also, when it is bent over, it 

 will attract less strength to itself, even though it bears 

 an abundance of fruit. A shoot which has been bent 

 over ought not to be allowed to continue so for more 

 than one year. 



Another kind of shoot which grows from a young 35 

 vine and hangs down tied to the tender part of the 

 vine, we call firm-wood ; it produces a good crop both 

 of fruit and of new sprouts, and if two rods are allowed 

 to grow from one head, both, nevertheless, are called 

 firm-wood ; for I have pointed out above what 

 strength the leaf-bearing shoot possesses. The 

 " throat-shoot " " is that which grows out of the 

 middle between two branches, as it were in a fork. 

 This I have found to be the worst kind of shoot, 

 because it does not bear fruit and it weakens both of 

 the branches between which it has grown. It must, 

 therefore, be removed. 



Most people have believed that a strong, luxuriant 36 

 vine becomes more fertile, if it is loaded with many 

 shoots which are allowed to grow, but they are 



65 



VOL. II. D 



