BOOK V. VI. 36-vii. I 



wrong; for it produces more leaf-bearing shoots 

 from its more numerous rods and, when it has 

 covered itself with abundant foliage, it flowers less 

 well and holds the fog and dew too long and loses all 

 its clusters of grapes. I am, therefore, in favour of 

 distributing a strong vine over the boughs of the 

 supporting tree and spreading it in the form of 

 cross-branches and thinning it out and bending 

 over a certain number of grape-bearing shoots, and, 

 if it is not luxuriant enough, leaving the firm- 

 wood loose. This method will make the vine more 

 productive. 



Just as a dense plantation is commendable from 37 

 the point of view of the fruit and for its fine appear- 

 ance, so when it becomes thin through lapse of time 

 it is equally unprofitable and ugly to look upon. To 

 prevent this, it is the duty of a careful owner of 

 property to remove every tree as soon as it becomes 

 enfeebled by age and to plant a young tree in its place 

 and not to crowd it round with quick-sets "■ — ^although 

 there may be facilities for doing so — but, what is far 

 better, to set layers from near at hand. In both cases 

 the method is very similar to that which we have 

 already set forth. We have now given enough in- 

 struction about Italian plantations. ^itntations 



VII.ThereisanotherkindofplantationfoundinGaul, of trees for 

 whichiscalledthatofdwarftrees.* It requires a low and vmes!'^"* 

 not very leafy tree, and the guelder-rose tree " seems 



* This is derived from rumpvs (Varro, R.R. I. 8. 4) meaning 

 a " vine-branch " or " runner " — apparently the same as 

 tradux — and teneo. 



" Viburnum opulus is called the cranberry-tree or high 

 cranberry, also white dogwood, marsh- or water-elder, or 

 gaiter-tree. 



67 



