The Middle-English translation of Palladius De Re Rustica / ed. by Mark Liddell.

[De putandis vineis communibus et humilibus. xij ca.]

In londis temperate & sumdel colde [225, 232 Ms. omits rubries here supplied from B.] Goode tyme is now the vynes kitt to be, And ther they multiplie many folde. Tho vines that Septemtrion doth se, [ 235] To cutte in spryngyng tyme auyse the. [236 Ms. &, B in.] That other part that loketh on the sonne. To cutte in heruest newe is not bygonne.

And strength alway the thegh in thi kittyng. Too hardnes in on wyne is not to make. [ 210] The croked, febul, faat, & mys growing And ek the greyne branche away thow take: The lower branche in goodly place awake. Let suffer that a gemme or too extende. Thy vines to repare or forto amende. [ 245]

In esy places hier may they trayle; In lene or hoot, declyue or stormy stedys Let hem be lowe. al so this wol avayl. In places fatte of vche an arm no nede is Of branches mo then too; also hit spede is [ 250] To deme vppon the bygnesse of the vyne As what wol make hit stonde & what declyne.

The vynes hie & of fecundite, [fol. 48a.] In branches viij ynough is to dilate.

About his thegh [crus.] let no thyng growyng be, [ 255] But if hit axe to be reuocate; [256 Ms. reuocate vel renouate (cf. above III 216), B reuocate.] And yf the stok be holgh or concauate, Purge of the dede; oyl dregges on the wounde Wit erth ydon, wol hele hit vp bygrounde. [259 Ms. by grounde, B bygrounde.]

And take away the torn & hongyng rynde, [ 260] The dregges wol the fewer be be grounde. [261 Ms. begrounde, B by grounde.] The mosse [muscus.] away do that wherere ye fynde. And in the harde if that thow make a wounde, Adownward sumdel lenyng most hit rounde. The clawes [ungues.] drie & scabbid, old, vnsely. [ 265] Kitte al away, & kepe up that is wely.

And if thy vynes footes iiij ascende, Then armes iiij is goode forth forto streyne. If hit be lene, in vche an arm extende; A branche if hit be fatte, extende vp tweyne. [ 270] But all out of oon side yf thow hem treyne. As thyng with leyt [fulgere.] forsmyton, wol they die; For thy do way that febul husbondrye.

Vppon the harde or on the top ne leue [dimittas.] Thi scions. Whi? for that is to fecounde, [ 275] The top with lytel fruit wol al for leue [pam∣pinare.] . Amyddes wol the best scions be founde. A lyte aboue his gemme ek make the wounde, And turne hit from the gemme in case hit wepe; The turnyng may the terys vtter drepe. [ 280]