 How often do Bachus vines mature and what is the significance of that timeline?
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Worlds of If Science Fiction, September 1962. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] "When I first came here, the Manpower Utilization Directorate, Division of Libraries and Education was a shambles. Frankly, I question the wisdom of placing you in charge of such a sensitive desk, even for two weeks. "I see they're sending two thousand students to d'Land," Retief said, glancing at the Memo for Record. "The Bogans have launched no less than four military campaigns in the last two decades. Now, perhaps, we shall see them breaking that precedent and entering into the cultural life of the Galaxy." "Breaking and entering," Retief said. But I'm wondering what they'll study on d'Land. That's an industrial world of the poor but honest variety." "Academic details are the affair of the students and their professors," Magnan said. "Our function is merely to bring them together. And remember: here at Corps HQ, all eyes are upon you." A tall broad man with bronze skin and gray hair, wearing tight trousers of heavy cloth, a loose shirt open at the neck and a short jacket, stepped into the room. The wine crop is just about ready. Now I don't know if you're familiar with the Bacchus vines we grow...?" "Bacchus vines are an unusual crop," he said, puffing the cigar alight. "Only mature every twelve years. In between, the vines don't need a lot of attention, so our time's mostly our own. Apples the size of a melon—and sweet—" "Sounds very pleasant," Retief said. We've turned all the land area we've got into parks and farms. We've got long seasons back home. Five of 'em. Our year's about eighteen Terry months. Blue-black sky, stars visible all day. Lots of skiing, bob-sledding, ice skating; and it's the season for woodworkers. Our furniture—" "I've seen some of your furniture," Retief said. "All local timbers too. Lots of metals in our soil and those sulphates give the woods some color, I'll tell you. Then comes the Monsoon. That's the music-writing season. You have the music and the surf and the bonfires and stars—we're close to the center of a globular cluster, you know...." Autumn's our harvest season.
 Every 12 years a vintage is held, which also serves as a cultural festival that encourage young people to procreate.
 Every 18 years a vintage is held, which is a kind of celebration of art.  Every 12 years a vintage is held, which also serves as a cultural festival that encourage young people to procreate.  Every 18 years a vintage is held, which serves as a kind of celebration of life for both young and old people.  Every 12 years a vintage is held, wherein the young people are made to harvest all the grapes.