Chap. 46.] CROPS SOWN IN DIFFERENT SOILS. 59 



fixed in the ground, it will pass away from the field into the 

 leaves of the laurel. Over- luxuriance in corn is repressed by 

 the teeth of cattle, 39 but only while it is in the blade ; in which 

 case, if depastured upon ever so often, no injury to it when 

 in the ear will be the result. If the ear, too, is once cut off, 

 the grain, it is well known, will assume a larger 40 form, but 

 will be hollow within and worthless, and if sown, will come 

 to nothing. 



At Babylon, however, they cut the blade twice, and then 

 let the cattle pasture on it a third time, for otherwise it would 

 run to nothing but leaf. Even then, however, so fertile is the 

 soil, that it yields fifty, and, indeed, with care, as much as a 

 hundred, fold. Nor is the cultivation of it attended with any 

 difficulty, the only object being to let the ground be under 

 water as long as possible, in order that the extreme richness 

 and exuberance of the soil may be modified. The Euphrates, 

 however, and the Tigris do not deposit a slime, in the same 

 way that the Mlus does in Egypt, nor does the soil produce 

 vegetation spontaneously ; but still, so great is the fertility, 

 that, although the seed is only trodden in with the foot, a crop 

 springs up spontaneously the following year. So great a dif- 

 ference in soils as this, reminds me that I ought to take this 

 opportunity of specifying those which are the best adapted 

 for the various kinds of grain. 



CHAP. 46. THE CHOPS THAT SHOULD BE SOWN IN THE DIFFERENT 



SOILS. 



This, then, is the opinion expressed by Cato 41 on the subject: 

 " In a dense and fertile soil wheat should be sown : but if the 

 locality is subject to fogs, rape, radishes, millet, and panic. 

 Where the land 42 is cold and moist, sowing should be com- 

 menced earlier ; but where it is hot, at a later period. In a 

 red, black, or gravelly soil, provided it is not watery, lupines 

 should be sown ; but in chalk, red earth, or a watery soil, 

 spelt. 43 Where a locality is dry, free from weeds, and not 

 overshadowed, wheat should be put in ; and where the soil is 



39 Virgil, Georg. i. Ill, recommends the same plan, and it is still fol- 

 lowed by agriculturists. It is not without its inconveniences, however. 



40 This is not consistent with truth, for no fresh ear will assume its place. 



41 De Re Rust. c. 6. 42 De Re Rust, c, 34. 

 43 " Ador." See c. 10 of this Book. 



