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1 Many years ago, there were in the gardens of the Luxembourg one thousand four hundred varieties of the French grape, and even then there were many not to be found there; while, at the same time, it was considered that the French kinds did not form more than one-twentieth part of the species known in Europe.
2 This vine was said to be of Grecian origin, and to have been con- veyed by a Thessalian tribe to Italy, where it was grown at Aminea, a village in the Falernian district of Campania. It is supposed to have been the same as the gros plant of the French. The varieties mentioned by Pliny seem not to have been recognized by the moderns.
3 Fée does not give credit to this statement.
4 In allusion to the cotton-tree, or else the mulberry leaves covered with the cocoons of the silkworm. See B. vi. c. 20, and B. xii. c. 21. Virgil, in the Georgics, has the well-known line: "Velleraque ut foliis depectant tenuia Seres."
5 See B. iii. c. 9. There are many vines, the wood of which is red, but this species has not been identified.
6 From "apis," a "bee." He alludes, it is thought, to the muscatel grape, said to have had its name from "musca," a "fly;" an insect which is greatly attracted by its sweetness.
7 Græcula.
8 Fée is inclined to think that he alludes to the vine of Corinth, the dried fruit of which are the currants of commerce.
10 Now Taormina, in Sicily, where, Fée says, it is still to be found. The grapes are red, similar to those of Mascoli near Etna, and much esteemed.
11 Picata. Seep. 221.
12 I. e., pale straw colour.
13 It has been supposed that this vine received its name from "fæx;" the wine depositing an unusually large quantity of lees.
14 It is doubtful whether this vine had its name from being grown in the district now called Bourges, or that of Bourdeaux. Dalechamps identifies it with the plant d' Orleans.
15 The origin of its name is unknown. The text is evidently defective.
16 By this name it would be understood that they were of an intermediate colour between rose and white, a not uncommon colour in the grape. Pliny, however, says otherwise, and he is supported by Columella.
17 C. Bauhin took this to mean one of the garden currant trees, the Ribes uva crispa of Linnæus, called by Bauhin Grossularia simplici acino, or else Spinosa agrestis. But, as Fée observes, the ancients were not so ignorant as to confound a vine with a currant-bush.
18 Like the Portuguese grapes of the present day.
19 Crisped and indented.
20 This variety, according to Christian de la Vega, was cultivated abundantly in Grenada he word cocolab, according to some, meant cock's comb. It is mentioned as a Spanish word by Columella.
21 Dalechamps says, that a similar wine was made at Montpellier, and that it was called "piquardant."
22 See B. xxiii. cc. 20, 21.
23 Probably from "albus," "white." Poinsinct thinks that it may have been so called from the Celtic word alb, or alp, a mountain, and that it grew on elevated spots. This, however, is probably fanciful.
24 Called by the Greeks ἀμέθυστον, from its comparatively harmless qualities.
25 Or "sober" vine.
26 Hardouin says that in his time it was still cultivated about Macerata, in the Roman States. Fée thinks that it may be one of the climbing vines, supported by forks, cultivated in the central provinces of France. See also B. xxiii. c. 19, as to the effects produced by its wine.
27 Poinsinet gives a Celto-Scythian origin to this word, and says that it means "injured by fogs." This appears to be supported in some measure by what is stated below.
28 See B. xvii. c. 37.
29 Or "thorny" vine. Fée queries why it should be thus called.
30 This humid, marshy locality was noted for the badness of its grapes, and consequently of its wine.
31 Hardouin thinks that this is the "Marze mina" of the Venetians: whence, perhaps, its ancient name.
32 "Testis." See B. xxxv. c. 46.
33 From Murgentum, in Sicily. See B. iii. c. 14.
34 From Pompeii, afterwards destroyed. See B. iii c. 9.
35 Hardouin, as Fée thinks, without good reason, identifies this with the "Arelaca" of Columella.
36 Georgics, ii. 99.
37 This seems to be the meaning of "ultro solum lætius facit." These two lines have been introduced by Sillig, from one of the MSS., for the first time.
38 Hardouin thinks that it is so called from Tuder, a town of Etruria. See B. iii. c. 19.
39 Sillig suggests that the reading here is corrupt, and that Pliny means to say that the vine called Florentia is particularly excellent, and merely to state that the talpona, &c., are peculiar to Arretium: for, as he says, speaking directly afterwards in disparagement of them, it is not likely he would pronounce them "opima," of "first-rate quality."
40 From "talpa," a "mole," in consequence of its black colour.
41 "Album."
42 Probably so called from the Etesian winds, which improved its growth.
43 Perhaps meaning "double-seeded." We may here remark, that the wines of Tuscany, though held in little esteem in ancient times, are highly esteemed at the present day.
44 The leaves of most varieties turn red just before the fall.
45 And Baccius thinks that this is the kind from which the raisins of the sun, common in Italy, and more particularly in the Valley of Bevagna, the Mevania of Pliny, are made.
46 Perhaps from "pumilio," a dwarf.
47 The "royal" vine, according to Poinsinet, who would derive it from the Sclavonic "ban."
48 Previously mentioned, p. 228.
49 Baccius says that the wine of this grape was thin like water, and that the vine was trained on lofty trees, a mode of cultivation still followed in the vicinity of Rome. Laurentum was situate within a short distance of it, near Ostia.
50 See B. iii. c. 9.
51 So called from the smoky or intermediate colour of its grapes. Fee suggests that this may be the slow-ripening grape of France, called the "verjus," or "rognon de coq."
52 Possibly meaning the "mouthful."
53 Perhaps so called from Prusa in Bithynia, a district which bore ex- cellent grapes.
54 Or the "turning" grape. A fabulous story no doubt, originating in the name, probably. Fée suggests that it may have originated in the not uncommon practice of letting the bunches hang after they were ripe, and then twisting them, which was thought to increase the juice.
55 The residence of Horace, now Tivoli.
56 In the modern Marches of Ancona.
57 Georgics, ii. 91, et seq.
Sunt Thasiæ vites, sunt et Mareotides albsæ:
Et passo Psithia utilior, tenuisque Lageos,
Tentatura pedes olim, vincturaque linguam,
Purpureæ, Preciæque——
58 A muscatel, Fée thinks.
59 Or "hard-berried." Fée thinks that the maroquin, or Morocco grape, called the "pied de poule" (or fowl's foot), at Montpellier, may be the duracinus.
60 Or "upright vine." In Anjou and Herault the vines are of similar character.
61 The "finger-like" vine.
62 The "pigeon" vine.
63 Though very fruitful, it does not bear in large clusters (racemi), but only in small bunches (uvæ).
64 The "three-foot" vine.
65 Perhaps meaning the "rush" grape, from its shrivelled appearance.
66 See c. 3 of this Book.
67 The ordinary number of pips or stones is five. It is seldom that we find but one. Virgil mentions this grape, Georg. ii. 95.
68 "Chium." This reading is doubtful. Fée says that between Narni and Terni, eight leagues from Spoleto, a small grape is found, without stones. It is called "uva passa," or "passerina." So, too, the Sultana raisin of commerce.
69 "Grown for the table."
70 Or "hard-berry."
71 Mentioned by Virgil, Georg. ii. 101.
72 Or pitch-grape.
73 Perhaps the "noirant," or "teinturier" of the French.
74 Or "garland-clustered" vine.
75 Fée says that this is sometimes accidentally the case, but is not the characteristic of any variety now known.
76 Or "market-grapes."
77 The "ash-coloured."
78 The "russet-coloured."
79 Probably so called from its grey colour, like that of the ass.
80 Or "fox" vine. This variety is unknown.
81 So called from Alexandria, in Troas, not in Egypt. Phalacra was in the vicinity of Mount Ida.
82 As the leaves of the vine are universally divided, it has been considered by many of the commentators that this is not in reality a vine, but the Arbutus uva ursi of Linnæus. The fruit, however, of that ericaceous plant is remarkably acrid, and not sweet, as Pliny states. Fée rejects this solution.
83 Aubenns, in the Vivarais, according to Hardouin; Alps, according to Brotier. We must reject this assertion as fabulous.
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- The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites, ALBA HELVIORUM (Alba) Ardèche, France.
- Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854), MARONEIA
- Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854), NOMENTUM
- Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854), TIBUR
- Smith's Bio, Opi'mius