150 AGRICULTURE. 



and whether what remains can be got through in due 

 season what has been done about the wine, corn, and all 

 other matters. When he has made himself acquainted 

 with these things, he should then compare the work done 

 with the number of days. If work enough does not seem 

 to have been done, the bailiff will say that he has been 

 very diligent that the slaves could not do any more that 

 the weather has been bad that slaves skulked that they 

 have been taken off to public work. When the bailiff has 

 given these, and many other, reasons, bring him back to 

 the actual details of work done. If he reports rainy weather, 

 ascertain for how many days it lasted, and inquire what they 

 were all about during the rain. Casks might be washed 

 and pitched, the farmhouse cleaned, corn turned, the cattle- 

 sheds cleaned out and a dung-heap made, seed dressed, old 

 ropes mended, and new ones made ; the family might mend 

 their cloaks and hoods. On public holidays old ditches 

 might have been scoured, the highway repaired, briers cut, 

 the garden dug, twigs kidded, the meadow cleared, thistles 

 pulled,, grain (far) pounded, and everything made tidy. 

 When the slaves have been sick they ought not to have 

 had so much food. When these matters are pretty well 

 cleared up, let him take effectual care that the work which 

 remains to be done, shall be done. Then he should go into 

 the money account, and the corn account ; examine what 

 has been bought in the way of food. Next, he should see 

 what wine and oil have come into store, and what have 

 been consumed, what is left, and how much can be sold. 

 If a good account is given of these things, let it be taken 

 as settled. All other articles should be looked into, that if 

 anything is wanted for the year's consumption it may be 

 bought ; if there is any surplus it may be sold ; and that 

 any matters which want arrangement may be arranged. 

 He should give orders about any work to be done, and 

 leave them in writing. He should look over his cattle with 

 a view to a sale. He should sell any spare wine, oil, and 

 corn, if the price suits. He should sell old work-oxen, -and 



