ROMAN AGRICULTURE. 41! 



steady and attached to the farm. On account of these connec- 

 tions, the Epirotic families are so distinguished and attached. 

 To give the persons who preside some degree of pleasure, you 

 must hold them in some estimation ; and you must consult with 

 some of the superior workmen concerning the work that is to 

 be done. When you behave thus, they think they are less 

 despicable, and that they are held in some degree of esteem by 

 their masters. They become more eager for work by liberal 

 treatment, by giving them victuals, or a large garment, or by 

 granting them some recreation or favor, as the privilege of 

 feeding something on the farm, or some such thing. In rela- 

 tion to those who are commanded to do the work of greater 

 drudgery, or who are punished, let somebody restore their good 

 will and affection to their master, by affording them the benefit 

 of consolation." 



Knowledge in matters relative to agriculture is inculcated by 

 all the rustic authors. "Whoever," says Columella, "would be 

 perfect in this science, must be well acquainted with the quali- 

 ties of soils and plants ; must not be ignorant of the various 

 climates, so that he may know what is agreeable and what is 

 repugnant to each ; he must know exactly the successions of the 

 seasons and the nature of each, lest, beginning his work when 

 showers and wind are just at hand, his labor shall be lost. He 

 must be capable of observing exactly the present temper of the 

 sky and seasons ; for these are not always regular, nor in every 

 year do the summer and winter bring the same kind of weather ; 

 nor is the spring always rainy and the autumn always dry. To 

 know these things before they happen, without a very good 

 capacity, and the greatest care to acquire knowledge, is, in my 

 opinion, in the power of no man." To these things mentioned 

 by Columella, Virgil adds several others : " Before we plow a 

 field to which we are strangers," says he, "we must be careful 

 to obtain a knowledge of the winds ; at what points they blow 

 at particular seasons ; and when and from whence they are most 

 violent'; the nature of the climate, which in different places is 

 very different ; the customs of our forefathers ; the customs of 

 the country ; the qualities of the different soils, and what are the 

 crops that each country produces and rejects." 



The making of experiments is a thing very strongly recom- 



