388 AGRICULTURE. 



conditions of their lease ; but they were perfectly free and inde- 

 pendent of their landlords, so much so as to sometimes enter 

 into lawsuits with them. 



The habits of a people take their rise, in a great degree, from 

 the climate in which they live, and the native or cultivated pro- 

 ductions with which the country abounds. As respects agri- 

 culture, it may be sufficient to mention that the great heat of 

 the climate, by relaxing the frame, naturally produces indolence 

 in many, and leads to a life of plunder in some. Hence, then 

 as now, the danger of thieves in that country; and hence, also, 

 the custom of performing field labor early in the morning and 

 in the evening, and resting during the noontide heat. The 

 general use of oil and wine as food and drink, and also of the 

 fig as an article of nourishment, are habits which arise immedi- 

 ately from the circumstance of these articles being the natural 

 product of the country, but are ultimately, like most other 

 habits, to be referred to the climate. 



The Roman authors are much more copious in describing 

 farm culture and economy, than in relating the state of landed 

 property, as to extent and proprietorship. Their directions, 

 being founded on experience, are in great part applicable at the 

 present day. They are remarkable for their minuteness, but we 

 can give only a very brief compendium, beginning with some 

 account of the farm, the villa or farmery, and taking in succes- 

 sion the servants, beasts of labor, implements, operations, crops 

 cultivated, animals reared, and profit produced. 



In the choice of a farm, Cato recommends a situation where 

 there are plenty of artificers and good water ; which has a forti- 

 fied town in its neighborhood; is near the sea or a navigable 

 river, or where the roads are good #nd easy. To these requi- 

 sites Varro adds : a proper market for buying and selling ; 

 security from robbers and thieves ; and the boundaries planted 

 with useful trees. The interior of the farm was not subdivided 

 by enclosures, which were seldom used but for their gardens, 

 and to form parks in the villas of the wealthy. The soil pre- 

 ferred by Columella, and all the Roman authors, is the fat and 

 free, as producing the greatest crops, and requiring the least 

 culture ; next, fat, stiff soil ; then, stiff and lean soil, that can be 

 watered ; and last of all, lean, dry soil. The state of a farm 



