ON THE AGE AND 
174 
“ Such another in Mar gi ana is fpoken of by Strabo , that 
was twelve feet in circumference. Pliny mentions one of 
“yfv hundred years old in his time^ and 2 X Pcoany the late 
“ Duke of Montmorancy s houfe, is a table of a very large di- 
menfion, made of the like plant ; and that which renders it 
“ the more flrange is, that a tree growing in fuch a wreathed 
** and twifted manner, rather like a rope than timber, and 
needing the fupport of others, fhould arrive to fuch a bulk 
** and firm confidence ; but fo it is, and Olearius affirms, that 
“ he found many Vines near the Cafpian fea, whofe trunks 
were as big about as a man.” 
“ Pliny i fpeaking of the Vine, fays. The ancients very 
** juftly reckoned Vines among trees, on account of their mag- 
nitude. We fee now an image of Jupiter 2XP opulonium^ ^ made 
“ out of one •!■, and incorrupted after fo many ages. Alfo a 
Patera at MaJJilia^. At Metapontum\, the Temple of 
** yunOt was fupported by vineal columns. And even now, 
as reported, the roof of the Temple of Diana at Ephyiis is 
afcended by ladders, made of one Cyprian Vine, for in Cy- 
** prus they grow up to an extraordinary fize. No wood is of 
a more lading nature.” Lib. xiv. chap. i. 
The Naturalid obferves afterwards, and very fenfibly, that 
the above particulars are to be underdood of Vines in their rude 
and 
* A city of Italy.— f A fingle Stock only. — J Sawn acrofs, we muft fuppofe, 
and not loo^ltudinally.— § Marfeilles.— j] Metapontum is in Calabria. 
