so HISTORY OF AGRICULTURE. Part I. 



fowls as to sell at 5001. ( Far. lib. iii. cap. 6.) A pair of fine doves were commonly of 

 the same price with a peacock, IL 13s. 46?. If very pretty, they were much higher in 

 the price, no less than 8/. 6s. 8d. L. Anius, a Roman knight, refused to sell a pair 

 under 13/. 6s. 8d." (Var. lib. iii. cap. 7.) Some kinds of fishes were very highly valued 

 among the Romans in the time of Varro. Hortensius, whom Varro used frequently 

 to visit, would sooner have parted with a pair of his best coach -mules, than with a bearded 

 mullet. ( Var. lib. iii. cap. 17.) Herrius's fish-ponds, on account of the quantity offish, 

 were sold for 33,333/. 6s. 8d. (Plin. Nat. Hitt. lib. ix. cap. 55.) LucuUus's likewise 

 at the same price. {Id. lib. ix. cap. 54.) 



SuBSECT. 7. Of the General Maxims of Farm Management among the Romans. 



157. In every art that has been long practised, there are maxims of management 

 which have been handed down from one generation to another ; and in no art are there more 

 of these than in agriculture. Maxims of this sort were held among the Romans in the 

 greatest estimation, and their writers have recorded a number derived from the lost 

 Greek writers, and from their own traditionary or experimental knowledge. A few of 

 these shall be noticed, as characteristic of Roman economy, and not without their use 

 in modern times. 



158. To sow less and plough belter was a maxim indicating that the extent of farms 

 ought to be kept in their proper bounds. Pliny and Virgil consider large farms as pre- 

 judicial, and Columella says, one of the seven wise men has pronounced that there 

 should be limits and measures in all things. *' You may admire a large farm, but cul- 

 tivate a small one ;" and the Carthaginian saying, " that the land ought to be weaker 

 than the husbandman," were maxims to the same effect. 



159. The importance of the master s presence in every operation of farming was in- 

 culcated by many maxims: " Whoever would buy a field ought to sell his house, lest 

 he delight more in the town than in the country," was a saying of Mago, " Wherever the 

 eyes of the master most frequently approach," says Columella, "there is the greatest 

 increase." It is justly remarked by the Rev. A. Dickson, that though " every person 

 knows that the presence and attention of the master is of great importance in every 

 business ; yet every person does not know, that in no business are they so important as 

 in farming." (Hist of the An. i. 206.) 



1 60. That more is to be gained by cultivating a small spot well than a large space indiffev'^ 

 entli/y is illustrated by many sayings and stories. " A vine-dresser had two daughters 

 and a vineyard ; when his eldest daughter was married, he gave her a third of his vine- 

 yard for a portion ; notwithstanding which, he had the same quantity of fruit as formerly. 

 When his younger daughter was married he gave her the half of what remained, and still 

 the produce of his vineyard was not diminished. " (Col. lib. iv. cap. 3.) Pliny mentions 

 a freedman, who having much larger crops than his neighbours, was accused of witchcraft 

 and brought to trial. He produced in the forum a stout daughter, and his excellently 

 constructed iron spades, shears, and other tools, with his oxen, and said, " These, Romans, 

 are my charms." He was acquitted. (A^at. Hist, xviii. 6.) 



161. Ostentatious or profuse culture is not less condemned than imperfect culture. 

 ** The ancients," says Pliny, " assert that nothing turns to less account than to give land a 

 great deal of culture." *' To cultivate well is necessary, to cultivate in an extraordi- 

 nary manner is hurtful." " In what manner then," he asks, " are lands to be culti- 

 vated to the best advantage?" To this he answers, " In the cheapest manner if it is 

 good ;" or " by good bad things," which, he says, were the words the ancients used to 

 express this maxim. 



162. Industry is recommended by numerous maxims. " The ancients," says 

 Pliny, " considered him a bad husbandman who buys what his farm can produce to 

 him : a bad master of a family, who does in the day-time what he may do at night, ex- 

 cept in the time of a storm : a worse, who does on common days what is lawful on 

 holidays : tlie worst of all, who on a good day is employed more within doors than in 

 the fields." (Nat. Hist.xvm. 6.) 



163. Kindness and humanity to servants and slaves is strongly recommended. " Slaves," 

 says Varro, must not be timid nor petulant. They who preside must have some degree 

 of learning and education ; they must be frugal, older than the workmen, for the latter are 

 more attentive to the directions of these, than they are to those of younger men. Besides, 

 it must be most eligible that they should preside, who are experienced in agriculture ; 

 for they ought not only to give orders, but to work, that they may imitate him, and that 

 they may consider that he presides over them with reason, because he is superior in 

 knowledge and experience : nor is he to be suffered to be so imperious to use coercion 

 with stripes, rather than words, if this can be done. Nor are many to be procured of the 

 same country, for domestic animosities very often arise from this source. You must en- 

 courage them who preside, by rewarding them, and you must endeavour to let them have 

 some privilege, and maid servants wedded to them, by whom they may have a family ; 



