INTRODUCTION 



Tnis volume contains Books XVII, XV^III, XIX, of 

 Flinvs Xaturalis Ilistoria. Book XVTI continues the 

 subject of arboriculture, begun in the preceding 

 Books ; Book X\II1 deals with cereal agriculture ; 

 Book XIX with the cultivation of flax and other 

 plants used for fabrics. and with vegetable gardening. 

 PHnv's own outhne of the contents given in Book I 

 will l)e found in V ohime I, pp. 80-91. 



At the time of his death Mr. Rackham was 

 engaged in work on the galley proofs of this volume. 

 With the exception of some parts which were re- 

 written by Prof. F,. H. Warmington the translation 

 is Mr. Rackham's work. Note that there is an Index 

 of plants at the end of Vol. Vll. 



