Chap. 25.] 
PITCH AND EESIN. 
267 
to take sea- water far out at sea, and to keep it in reserve,^^ 
to be employed for this purpose : at all events, it ought to be 
taken up in the night and during the summer solstice, while 
the north-east wind is blowing ; but if taken at the time of 
the vintage, it should be boiled before being used. 
The pitch most highly esteemed in Italy for preparing 
vessels for storing wine, is that which comes from Eruttium. 
It is made from the resin that distils from the pitch-tree ; that 
which is used in Spain is held in but little esteem, being the 
produce of the wild pine ; it is bitter, dry, and of a disagree- 
able smell. While speaking of the wild trees in a succeeding 
Book,^^ we shall make mention of the different varieties of pitch, 
and the methods used in preparing it. The defects in resin, 
besides those which we have already mentioned, area certain 
degree of acridity, or a peculiar smoky flavour, while the great 
fault in pitch is the being over-burnt. The ordinary test 
of its goodness is a certain luminous appearance when broken 
to pieces ; it ought to stick, too, to the teeth, with a pleasant, 
tart flavour. 
In Asia, the pitch which is most esteemed is that of Mount 
Ida, in Greece of Pieria; but YirgiP^ gives the preference to 
the Narycian^^ pitch. The more careful makers mix with 
the wine black mastich, which comes from Pontus,^^ and resem- 
bles bitumen in appearance, as also iris root and oil. As to 
coating the vessels with wax, it has been found that the wine 
is apt to turn acid it is a better plan to put wine in vessels 
that have held vinegar, than in those which have previously 
contained sweet wine or mulsum. Cato^'' recommends that 
wines should be got up — concinnari is his word — by putting 
of lie-ashes boiled down with defrutum, one-fortieth part to the 
culeus, or else a pound and a half of salt, with pounded 
marble as well : he makes mention of sulphur also, but only gives 
the very last place to resin. When the fermentation of the wine 
is coming to an end, he recommends the addition of the must 
2^ A perfect absurdity, Fee remarks. 
3^ B. xvi. CO. 16—23. 
Bitterness, driness, and a disagreeable smell. 
39 Georg. ii. 498. See B. iv. c. 12. 
^1 See B. xii. c. 36. ^2 gee B. xxi. c. 19. 
*3 Bees' wax, Fee remarks, would not have this effect, but vinegar 
vessels would. 
^ De Ee Bust. c. 23. 
