 What is the significance of Lovenbroy’s seasons?
[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.] "I don't appreciate frivolity with reference to this Division," Magnan said testily. Frankly, I question the wisdom of placing you in charge of such a sensitive desk, even for two weeks. "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. That's an industrial world of the poor but honest variety." "Our function is merely to bring them together. I'll leave him to you, Retief," Magnan said. 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. Folks can't spend all their time hybridizing plants. We've turned all the land area we've got into parks and farms. Lovenbroy's a nice place, Mr. Retief." "It sounds like it, Mr. Arapoulous. We've got long seasons back home. Five of 'em. Our year's about eighteen Terry months. Cold as hell in winter; eccentric orbit, you know. 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. Summer's hot. Lots of beach on Lovenbroy; we're mostly islands. The theatres are set up on the sand, or anchored off-shore. 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. Most years we have just the ordinary crops.
 Each season’s weather brings a new set of cultural recreation and work.
 Each season’s weather brings a new set of cultural recreation and work.  Each season calls for a new way to tend the Bacchus vine.  Each season requires a new cultural shift in line with the needs of the young people.  Each season’s weather brings a new approach to how the community thinks about its relationship to wine.