434 On the Cultivation of the Vine, 
The choice of situation in which vessels containing wine 
ought to be deposited, is not a matter of indifference : on 
this subject we find among the antients usages and pre- 
cepts which deviate for the most part from our common 
methods, but which, in part, are worthy of attention. The 
Romans drew off the wine from the casks to shut it up in 
large earthen vessels glazed in the inside : this is what 
they called diffusio vi norum, It appears that for contain- 
ing wines they had two sorts of vessels, which they call- 
ed amphora and cadus. The amphora was of a square or 
cubical form, had two handles, and contained twenty gal- 
lons of liquor. This vessel terminated in a narrow neck, 
which was stopped with pitch or plaster to prevent the 
wine from exhaling. This we learn from Petronius, who 
says, Amphorae vitrem diligenter gypsatm aliatce sunt , 
quorum in cervicibus pittacia erant afjixa cum hoc titulo 
Falernum opimanum annorum centum.” The cadus 
had the figure of the cone of a fir-tree ; it contained one- 
half more than the amphora . 
The most generous wines were exposed to the open air 
in vessels well closed; the weakest were prudently placed 
under cover : Fortius vinum sub dio locandum , tenuia 
vero sub tecto reponenda , cavendaque a commotione ae 
strepitu viarum , says Baccius. Galen observes that the 
whole wine was put into bottles, after which it was ex- 
posed to a strong heart in close apartments ; and in sum- 
mer it was exposed to the sun on the tops of the houses, 
that it might sooner become mellow, and fit for drinking. 
Game vinum in lagenas transfundi , postea in clausa cubi- 
cida mulid subjecta jiamwd reponi , et in tecta mdium 
(Estate insolari , unde citius maturescant ac pot ui idonea 
evadant. 
That wine may keep, and improve in quality, it ought 
to he put into vessels deposited in proper places,' the 
choice of which is not a matter of indifference. Glass 
