302 
plint's natueal history. 
[Book XY. 
has a remarkably short stalk, and will stand on its end, as also 
the patrieium, and the voconium, a green oblong kind. In 
addition to these, YirgiP^ has made mention of a pear called the 
volema,"^^ a name which he has borrowed from Cato,^''' who 
makes mention also of kinds known as the sementivum" 
and the musteum." 
CHAP. 17. — VAEIOUS METHODS OF GRAFTINa TEEES. EXPIATIONS 
FOR LIGHTNING. 
This branch of civilized life has long since been brought to 
the very highest pitch of perfection, for man has left nothing 
untried here. Hence it is that we find Yirgil "^^ speaking of 
grafting the nut-tree on the arbutus, the apple on the plane, 
and the cherry on the elm. Indeed, there is nothing further 
in this department that can possibly be devised, and it is a 
long time since any new variety of fruit has been discovered. 
Eeligious scruples, too, will not allow of indiscriminate graft- 
ing ; thus, for instance, it is not permitted to graft upon the 
thorn, for it is not easy, by any mode of expiation, to avoid 
the disastrous effects of lightning; and we are told^^ that as 
many as are the kinds of trees that have been engrafted on the 
thorn, so many are the thunderbolts that will be hurled against 
that spot in a single flash. 
The form of the pear is turbinated ; the later kinds remain 
on the parent tree till winter, when they ripen with the frost ; 
such, for instance, as the Greek varietj^, the ampullaceum, and 
the laureum ; the same, too, with apples of the Amerinian 
and the Scandian kinds. Apples and pears are prepared for 
1* The Poire sarteau, according to Dalechamps. 
^5 Georgics, ii. 87. 
16 A handful" — prohably the pound or pounder pear : the Bergamotte, 
according to Hardouin ; the Bon chretien of summer, according to Adrian 
Junius. 
17 De Ee Eust. c. 7. i^ Or Seedling." 
1^ The " early ripener." Fee suggests that this may be a variety of the 
Bon Chretien. 
20 Georgics, ii. 69. This statement of Virgil must be regarded as fabu- 
lous ; grafting being impracticable with trees not of the same family, and 
not always successful even then. 
21 This was probably some superstition taught by the augurs for the 
purpose of enveloping their profession in additional mystery and awe. 
