INTRODUCTION 



earliest editions as the fourth, and so on.^ Mention 

 is made of a work Adversus Astrologos ^ and to a 

 treatise proposed, but possibly not written, on the 

 religious ceremonies connected with agriculture.^ 



The Res Rustica, addressed to a certain Publius 

 Silvinus,* is the most comprehensive and systematic 

 of all treatises of Roman writers on agricultural 

 affairs. The first book contains general directions 

 regarding the choice of land, the water supply, the 

 arrangement of farm buildings, and the distribution 

 of various tasks among the farm staff. The second 

 deals with agriculture proper, the ploughing and 

 enrichment of the soil, and the care of various crops. 

 The third, fourth, and fifth books are devoted to the 

 cultivation, grafting, and pruning of fruit trees and 

 shrubs, the vine, and the olive. The sixth contains 

 instructions for selecting, breeding, and rearing 

 cattle, horses, and mules, together with a discourse 

 on veterinary medicine. The seventh continues 

 the subject with reference to smaller domestic 

 animals, sheep, goats, swine, and dogs. The eighth 

 has to do with the management of poultry and fish- 

 ponds. The ninth treats similarly of bees. The 

 tenth, an experiment in hexameters to satisfy the 

 request of Gallio and of Silvinus for " a taste of 



1 That the book on trees does not belong to the larger work 

 is evident from the fact that it is not addressed to Silvinus, 

 as are the other twelve, and from statements in later books of 

 the Res Rustica giving an exact accounting of the number of 

 books preceding, e.g. X. Praef. 1 ; VIII. 1. 1 ; XI. 1. 2; XII. 

 13. I. lucundus, editor of the first Aldino edition (1514), was 

 the first to set the misplaced De Arboribus at the end, as a thir- 

 teenth book, and all late*- editors have followed his example. 



2 XI. 1. 31. 3 II. 21. 5-6. 



* Known only from Columella's numerous references to him, 

 but obviously a countryman and a neighbour of the author. 



