390 AGRICULTURE. 



when imprudence or negligence in working is to be set to rights, 

 the time for the work is already wasted, nor are the effects of 

 the amendment such as to make up for the lost labor, and bal- 

 ance the advantages that might have been gained by improving 

 the season that is past." 



The qualities of the other villa servants are represented by the 

 same author, in this manner: "The careful and industrious," 

 he says, "should be appointed masters of the works. These 

 qualities are more necessary for this business than stature or 

 strength of body, for this service requires diligent care and art." 

 Of the plowman, he says : "Though a degree of genius is nec- 

 essary, it is not enough. There should be joined to it a harsh- 

 ness of voice and manner to terrify the cattle ; but he should 

 temper strength with clemency, because he ought to be more 

 terrible than cruel, so that the oxen may obey his commands, 

 and continue the longer at their work, not being spent at 

 the same time, both with the severity of labor and stripes. 

 What the offices of masters of works and of plowmen are, I 

 shall mention in their proper place. It is sufficient, at present, 

 to observe that tallness and strength are of great use in the one, 

 and of very little in the other ; for we should make the tallest 

 man a plowman, both for the reason I have already mentioned, 

 and because there is no rustic work by which a tall man is less 

 fatigued than by plowing ; because, when employed in this, walk- 

 ing almost upright, he may lean upon the handle of the plow." 

 Of the common laborer he says : " He may be of almost any 

 size, providing he is able to endure fatigue " ; of the vine- 

 dresser : "Vineyards do not require such tall men, providing 

 they are thick and brawny, for this constitution of body is most 

 proper for digging, pruning, and other culture necessary for 

 them. In this work diligence is less necessary than in other 

 works of husbandry, because the vine-dresser ought to perform 

 his work in company, and under the eye of a director. Com- 

 monly, wicked men are of a quicker genius, which this kind of 

 work requires ; and, as it requires not only a stout servant but 

 one of active contrivance, vineyards are commonly cultivated 

 by slaves in chains." Thus we see that, among the Romans, 

 laborers were appointed to the different works of husbandry 

 according to their size, strength, and genius. 



