384 AGRICULTURE. 



ations, in a soldier-agriculturist, which would not be displayed 

 by men who had never been trained to any regular habits of 

 action. 



The observation of Pliny confirms this supposition. He as- 

 serts that the Roman citizens, in early times, " plowed their 

 fields with the same diligence that they pitched their camps, 

 and sowed their corn with the same care that they formed their 

 armies for battle." Grain, he says, was then abundant and 

 cheap. Afterward, when Rome extended her conquests and 

 acquired large territories, rich individuals purchased large es- 

 tates. The culture of these fell into different hands, and was 

 carried on by bailiffs and farmers, much in the same way as in 

 modern times. Columella informs us that it was so in his time, 

 stating that " the men employed in agriculture are either farmers 

 or servants, the last being divided into free servants and slaves." 

 It was a common practice to cultivate land by slaves during the 

 time of the elder Pliny, but his nephew and successor let his 

 estates to farmers. In the time of Cato the Censor, the author 

 of "The Husbandry of the Ancients" observes, though the 

 operations of agriculture were generally performed by servants, 

 yet the great men among the Romans continued to give par- 

 ticular attention to it, studied its improvements, and were very 

 careful and exact in the management of all their country affairs. 

 This appears from the directions given them by this most atten- 

 tive farmer. 



These great men had both houses in town and villas in the 

 country ; and, as they resided frequently in town, the manage- 

 ment of their country affairs was committed to a bailiff or over- 

 seer. Now their attention to the culture of their lands, and 

 every other branch of husbandry, appears from the directions 

 given them how to behave upon their arrival from the city at 

 their villas. "After the landlord," says Cato, "has come to the 

 villa and performed his devotions, he ought that very day, if 

 possible, to go through his farm ; if not that day, at least the 

 next. When he has considered in what manner the fields should 

 be cultivated, what work should be done, and what not, the next 

 day he ought to call the bailiff and inquire what of the work is 

 done, and what remains ; whether the laboring is far enough 

 advanced for the season, and whether the things that remain 



