Chap. 27.] 
WINE-YESSELS. 
269 
The following are among the rules given for the proper 
management of wines : — One side of the wine-cellar, or, at 
all events, the windows, ought to face the north-east, or at least 
due east. All dunghills and roots of trees, and everything of 
a repulsive smell, ought to be kept at as great a distance as 
possible, wine being very apt to contract an odour. Fig-trees 
too, either wild or cultivated, ought not to be planted in the 
vicinity. Intervals should also be left between the vessels, 
in order to prevent infection, in case of any of them turning 
bad, wine being remarkably apt to become tainted. The 
shape, too, of the vessels is of considerable importance : those 
that are broad and bellying are not so good.^^ "VYe find it re- 
commended too, to pitch them immediately after the rising of 
the Dog-star, and then to wash them either with sea or salt 
water, after which they should be sprinkled with the ashes of 
tree -shoots or else with potters' earth ; they ought then to be 
cleaned out, and perfumed with myrrh, a thing which ought 
to be frequently done to the wine-cellars as well. "Weak, 
thin wines should be kept^ in dolia sunk in the ground, while 
those in which the stronger ones are kept should be more ex- 
posed to the air. The vessels ought on no account to be entirely 
filled, room being left for seasoning, by mixing either raisin 
wine or else defrutum flavoured with saffron ; old pitch and 
sapa are sometimes used for the same purpose. The lids, too, 
of the dolia ought to be seasoned in a similar manner, with 
the addition of mastich and Eruttian pitch. 
It is strongly recommended never to open the vessels, ex- 
cept in fine weather ; nor yet while a south wind is blowing, 
or at a full moon. 
The flower^ of wine when white is looked upon as a good 
sign ; but when it is red, it is bad, unless that should happen 
to be the colour of the wine. The vessels, too, should not be 
hot to the touch, nor should the covers throw out a sort of 
sweat. When wine very soon flowers on the surface and 
emits an odour, it is a sign that it will not keep. 
As to defrutum and sapa, it is recommended to commence 
boiling them when there is no moon to be seen, or, in other 
" Yentruosa." He means " round." ^2 oblong ones, probably. 
While fermenting, and before racking off. 
Flos vini, the Mycoderma vini of Desmazieres, a moidd or pellicule 
v/hich forms on the surface, and afterwards falls and is held in suspension. 
