C a t ^ s Farm Management 



places, there plant reeds, and sur- 

 round them with willows that the 

 osiers may serve to tie the vines. 



(vil) It is most convenient to 

 set out the land nearest the house as 

 an orchard, whence fire wood and 

 faggots may be sold and the supply 

 of the master obtained. In this en- 

 closure should be planted everything 

 fitting to the land and vines should be 

 married to the trees. ^ 



(vill) Near the house lay out 

 also a garden with garland flowers 

 and vegetables ^ of all kinds, and 



1 The English word "orchard" scarcely translates 

 arbustum, but every one who has been in Italy will 

 recall the endless procession of small fields of maize 

 and rye and alfalfa through which serried ranks of 

 feathery elm trees, linked with the charming drop 

 and garland of the vines, seem to dance toward one 

 in the brilliant sunlight, like so many Greek maidens 

 on a frieze. These are arbusta. 



2 Cato was a strong advocate of the cabbage ; he 

 called it the best of the vegetables and urged that it 

 be planted in every garden for health and happiness. 

 Horace records (Odes. Ill, 2i, ii) that old Cato's 

 virtue was frequently warmed with wine, and 

 Cato himself explains (CLVI) how this could be 

 accomplished without loss of dignity, for, he says, if, 



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