Plinies Natural! Hifiorie* 



A paice of fheercsjor pludcd out with pincers : then to be hung up within 3 great new earthen vef- 

 fdl well pitched; with the head or lid thereofthroughly flopped and plaiieredup clofe^to es- 

 clude all aire. After which manner, iheyfaySorviflesand Pcares maybekept^butfojasinany 

 cafe the twigs and fteeles whereby they hang, be well IJefmeared with pitch . Moreoverj order 

 would be givcnjthat the barrels or veffels wherein they arc kept^be far ynough from water.Some 

 againe there be who keepe Grapes together with their braunchjaftet the fame manner in plailer: 

 but fo, as both ends of the faid braunch fticke in the head of the fea-Onion Sqiiilla ; and others 

 let Grape- clufters hang within hogfheads and pipes having wine in them ; but fo, as the Grapes 

 touch not the wine in any cafe. There be alfo that put Apples and fiich fruits in fliallow pans or 

 pancheons of carth^and let them fwim and flote aloft upon the wine within their veflels : for be- 



g fides that this is a way to preferve them, the wine alfo (as they thinkc) will thereby ^et a pleafant 

 and odoriferous taft.Oihersyee havebefides,that chufe rather to prelervc all thefcFruitSj as well 

 ApplesjPearesj&c.as Grapes, covered in Millet feed . Howbeit, the moftpart dig a trench or 

 ditch two foot deep in the ground,they floore it with fand in the bottome3& lay their fruits thcr- 

 upon I then they flop the top with an earthen lid^and afterwards cover all with earth.Somc there 

 are which foeare their bunches of Grapes all over with potters clay^and when they arc dried in 

 theSunne, hang them up in folars for their ufe: and againft the time that they fhould occupie 



. them,fteepe them in the water,and fo wafh off theforefaid clay. But for to keepe Apples that arc 

 of any worth,they temper the fame clay with winCsand make a raorter thereof^whcrcin they lap 

 the faid Apples.Now if thofe Apples be of the beft kind and right foveraignc,after the fame fort 



^ they cover them with a cruft of the like pall or morter,or elfe clad them within a coat of waxc : 

 and if they were not fully ripe beforc^they grow by that meanes, and breake their cruft or cover 

 what ever it be.But this would not be forgotten jthat they ufc alwaies to fet the Apple or fruit up- 

 right upon thetaile^howfoever they b^kept. Some there are who gather Apples and fuch like 

 fruit with their jQips &:fprigs, hide theiTi within the pith of an Elder tree,and then cover them iit 

 earth ,35 is before written. And others tliere are^who for every Peare or Applejiave a feverall ear^ 

 thenpot^and after that their lids be well clofcd and flopped with pitch/hcn they enclofe them 

 againe with great velfels or tuns.Nay^ye fliall havefomc to lap them with flockes and woolljand 

 fopurthemincafes5and them they fee well luted with morter made of clay and chaffe tempered 

 together. Some order them in the fame fortjbut they put them in earthen pansrand others make 



p nomoreadoe, but dig an hole in the ground, floore the bottome with acourfeof fand , put the 

 Apples or fruit within_, and then anonc when they are thus buried^cover all with mould. There 

 be that ufeQoinces in this wife; they take them,annoint them withwaxecomniingoutof Pon- 

 tus^and fuffer them afterwards to lie covered in honie . 



C<?/«z^>if ////mine author rcportethjTh at fruits will keepe well in earthen pots throughly pit- 

 ched.and afterwards fet in pits,and drenched in cefternesofwatcr.In the maritime coafts ofLi- 

 guria next to the Alpes, they ufe to take Grapes after they are dried in the Sun, and wrap therti 

 withinbandsof ruQies and reeds,put them up in little bariels,andftop them clofe with plafter. 

 The Greekes have the fame falhion : but they take for that purpofe,thc leaves of the Plane- 

 trecjofthe vjne it felfe,or elfe the fig- trc€,aftcr they be dried one day in the fhade : and when they 



^ be in the barrell ,betweene every bed of grape cluflers, they couch acourfe of grape kernels, 

 and fuch refufe remaining after the prcile. And in thismannerare thegrapesof Coos sndBc- 

 rytus preferved: andforfweetneffeandpleafanttaftjthereare no better to be found. And fome 

 there be, that for to counterfeit thefe excellent Grapes, befmeareihem with lieaflies fo fbone 

 as ever they be pulled from the Vine, and prelently dric them in the Sunne : which done, they 

 enwrap them within leaves^as hath been faid before,and fo couch them clofe within the cake of 

 prefTed grapes. Nevertheleffe, there bcdiversthatchuferatherro keepe Grapesinthefawdufl 

 or fhavings of Firre wood, Poplar, or Afli. Some are afraid to let Grapes hang neareto Ap- 

 ples, Pomegranates, and fuch like fruit, and therefore give in charge to let them prefently after 

 they bee gathered,for to bee hung up in garners or bourded lofts ; fuppofing that the duft which 



P they gather from above, is the beff cover to defend and preferve them, The remcdie to keepe 

 VVefpesfrom them,istofpurtorfquirtoileoutof a mans moiith upon them. And thus much 

 concerning the way to preferve Grapes and other fruits afotefaid. As for Daces^ we have fpoken 

 fufficiently before,of them. 



Chap« 



