Preface 



While Cato is readily accessible in 

 French and in German, the only re- 

 corded English translation, that of 

 the Rev. Thos. Owen published at 

 London in 1803, is at once inadequate 

 and scarce. For this reason the pres- 

 ent editor has ventured to translate 

 from the Latin (and to annotate from 

 the works of other ancient agro- 

 nomes) those portions of the De re 

 rustica which are of enduring inter- 

 est. While this was done for the 



ntertainment of the translator, with 

 in echo of Horace's prayer (Sat. 

 [I, 6, 14) that everything on his 

 farm might grow fat except his 

 A^its, it is now submitted in the hope 



hat other American farmers may 

 :hus be afforded the pleasure of mak- 





^37 



