BOOK ir. 11. 21-24 



fie4d in readiness for planting ; and it yields no 

 trifling increase if it is worked Avith care and 

 understanding. For this reason it is a matter of 

 first importance to put a plan of this kind of work 

 in writing, that husbandmen may adhere to it as a 

 pattern and a law in the breaking up of their fields. 



To proceed then, it is proper to have oxen closely 22 

 yoked while at work, so that they ^\i\\ move with a 

 more stately gait, with lofty bearing and heads held 

 high ; also that their necks may be galled less, and 

 that the yoke may sit more closely on their shoulders. 

 This method of yoking is most approved ; for the 

 method in use in some provinces — fastening the yoke 

 to the horns — has been condemned by almost all 

 who have written precepts for husbandmen, and not 

 without reason. For cattle can put forth more effort 23 

 with neck and shoulders than with the horns," and in 

 this way they exert themselves with the entire bulk 

 of the body and its whole weight ; but in the other 

 way, with their heads pulled back and faces turned 

 upward, they are tortured, and barely scratch the 

 sm-face of the ground with a vei-y Hght ploughshare. 

 And it is for this reason that they work with smaller 

 ploughs, because they are unable to tear up the sur- 

 face of new ground and dig it deep ; but when this is 

 done, all groAnng things are greatly benefited, for 

 when ploughlands are deeply furrowed the fruits 

 of crops and trees swell with greater increase. On 24 

 this point, therefore, I disagree with Celsus, who, 

 shrinking from the expense w^hich is undoubtedly 

 greater in the case of larger cattle, advises the break- 

 ing up of land with smal] shares and share-beams, 

 so that it may be accomplished with oxen of smaller 

 size ; disregarding the fact that the revenue in fruit- 



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