170 AGRICULTURE. 



sometimes rollers, called tribula, traha, and plostellum, and 

 which, whatever it might be, was adopted from Carthage. 

 All the writers put forth their strength in describing the 

 construction of the area or threshing-floor. Cato forms a 

 concrete-like surface of heavily rolled and rammed earth 

 (cylindro aut pavicula cosequato), and saturated with the 

 lees of oil (amurca). Varro follows his lead ; Columella 

 adds that the floor is improved if straw be introduced into 

 the mixture. Pliny and Palladius macadamise flint, pound 

 it, and roll it with the fragment of a column ; but the latter 

 mentions a floor " saxo mentis excisa," we suppose flagged. 

 Virgil, in a charming passage, which is as poetical as it is 

 correct, constructs a threshing-floor. Two lines suffice to 

 describe the handworking of the earth, the levelling it 

 with a very heavy roll, " ingenti cylindro," and the covering 

 with a solid surface of chalk : a third line points out that 

 weeds and dust, which would spoil the grain, should be 

 guarded against ; while six more suffice to specify those 

 peculiar habits of mice, moles, toads, weevils, and ants re- 

 spectively, from which injury may be expected. Four words 

 thrown in by way of &c. conjure up ideas of centipedes, 

 earwigs, woodlice, and other disgusting inhabitants of cracks 

 and chinks. 



The Romans would not have incurred Mause Headrigg's 

 reprobation by " impiously thwarting the will of Divine 

 Providence, in raising wind for their ain particular use by 

 human art." They were content for the most part to " dight 

 the corn frae the chaff" by casting it with shovels in the 

 teeth of a moderate wind. In cases, however, of protracted 

 calm or other emergency, Columella recommends the use 

 of a vannus. It is mentioned by Virgil among the " duris 

 agrestibus arma," as " mystica vannus lacchi ; " and was no 

 doubt a fan of some sort. The words are the same. They 

 also used sieves to free the grain from dust. These are 

 mentioned both in the Old and New Testament. 



The modes of using straw were various, and the variations 

 were local. Ordinarily the upper half was used as cattle 



