I] THE SOIL 25 



first discuss the natural configuration of the farm. 



2 Now there are three kinds of land which are 

 .. simple in character — the flat, the hilly, the mount- 

 ainous, and, springing from these three, a fourth — 

 the mixed — as in the case of a farm where two or 

 three of these kinds co-exist, of which many ex- 

 amples may be found. To speak of these three 

 fundamental degrees of elevation, without any doubt 



■ one method of cultivation is better adapted to the 

 lowest than to the highest land, for the former is 

 hotter than the latter; and it is the same with hilly 

 ground, as it has a more temperate climate than 

 either. And these differences in lands belonging 

 wholly to one or other of the three kinds is the 

 more marked the greater their extent. 



3 Thus where there are wide plains, the heat is 

 more intense — as in Apulia where the air is com- 

 paratively heavy and sultry ; and where there are 

 mountainous districts, as on Vesuvius, the air being 

 lighter is consequently more wholesome; and the 

 farmers below suffer more in summer, those above 



4 more in winter. In spring time the same crops that 

 are sown on high levels are sown earlier on the 

 plains, and can be garnered there with greater des- 

 patch. Moreover, both sowing and mowing take 

 more time on the high than on low grounds. Some 

 things grow more freely and strongly on mountain 

 ' mds, owing to the cold — firs and pines, for in- 



tance; on low ground, because the climate is more 



•mperate, poplars and willows flourish; some 



things are more fertile on high ground, as the 



