Chop, oi.] HOW TO ASCEETAIT^ THE QUALITY OF SEED. G9 



universally agreed upon is, that we must never sow without 

 first manuring the ground ; although in this respect even there 

 are certain rules to be observed. Millet, panic, rape, and tur- 

 nips should never be sown in any but a manured soil. If, on 

 the other hand, the l^d is not manured, sow wheat there in 

 preference to barley. The same, too, with fallow lands; 

 though in these it is generally recommended that beans should 

 be sown. It should be remembered, however, that wherever 

 beans are sown, the land should have been manured at as re- 

 cent a period as possible. If it is intended to crop ground in 

 autumn, care must be taken to plough in manure in the month 

 of September, just after rain has fallen. In the same way, 

 too, if it is intended to sow in spring, the manure should be 

 spread in the winter. It is the rule to give eighteen cart-loads 

 of manure to each jugerum, and to spread it well before 

 ploughing it in,^^ or sowing the seed.^ If this manuring, 

 however, is omitted, it will be requisite to spread the land 

 with aviary dust just before hoeing is commenced. To clear 

 up any doubts with reference to this point, I would here ob- 

 serve that the fair price for a cart-load of manure is one 

 denarius ; where, too, sheep furnish one cart-load, the larger 

 cattle should furnish ten :^ unless this result is obtained, it 

 is a clear proof that the husbandman has littered his cattle 

 badly. 



There are some persons who are of opinion that the best 

 method of manuring land is to pen sheep there, with nets 

 erected to prevent them from straying. If land is not ma- 

 nured, it will get chilled ; but if, on the other hand, it is over- 

 manured, it becomes burnt up : it is a much better plan, too, 

 to manure little and often than in excess. The warmer the 

 soil is by nature, the less manure it requires. 



CHAP. 54. (24.) HOW TO ASCERTAIN THE QUALITY OF SEED. 



The best seed of all is that which is of the last year's growth. 

 That which is two years old is inferior, and three the worst of all 



^^ " Ares" seems to be a preferable reading to" arescat,' ' " before it dries." 

 ^ Schneider, upon Columella, B. ii. c. 15, would reject these words, 



and they certainly appear out of place. 



^^ Poinsinet would supply here " tricenis diebus," " in thirty days," from 



Columella, B. ii. c. 15. 



