BOOK XVIII. V. 23-vi. 26 



which Decimus Silanus, a man of most distinguished 

 family, surpassed everybody. But we have given 

 at the beginning a list of the philosophers of origin- voi. l. 

 aHty and the eminent poets and other distinguished ''' ^^' 

 authors whoni we shall follow in this volume, 

 although special mention must be made of Marcus 

 \'arro, who felt moved to publish a treatise on this 

 subject in the eighty-first year of his life. 



Vine-growing bcffan amonff the Romans much Method 

 later, and at the beginning, as of necessity, they only the^^rlsem 

 practised agriculture, the theory of which we will '^-^"^y- 

 now deal with, not in the common method but, as 

 we have done hitherto, by making an exhaustive 

 research into both ancient practiccs and subsequent 

 discoveries, and at the same tinie delving into 

 causes and principles. We shall also treat of astro- 207 ff. 

 nomy, and shall give the indubitable signs which the 

 stars themselves afford as regards the earth, inasmuch 

 as authors who have hitherto handled these subjects 

 with some degree of thoroughness may be thought 

 to have been writing for any class of people rather 

 than farmers. 



VI. And first of all we will proceed for the most 

 part by the guidance of oracular precepts, which in 

 no other department of life are more numerous or 

 more trastworthy — for why not assign oracular value 

 to precepts originating from the infallible test of time 

 and the supremely truthful verdict of expericnce ? 



We will borrow a commencement from (Za.to :'* cato^sadvice 

 ' The agricultural class produces the bravest men, ^^e°rjes 

 the most cfallant soldiers and the citizens least given «V" '"'v'"^ 



" d fQTTYl 



to evil designs.' ' In buying a farm do not be too 

 eager.' In rural affairs ' do not be sparing of trouble, 

 least of all in buying land ' ; a bad purchase is always 



205 



