BOOK II. XIII. 3-xiv. 2 



For there is no doubt that a field is impaired by 

 seeding it with these, just as it is by millet and panic. 

 But for all ground that is exhausted by cropping the 

 aforesaid legumes there is one remedy at hand, 

 namely, to come to its aid with manure, and with this 

 sustenance, so to speak, to restore the strength that 

 has been taken from it ; and this not only for the 4 

 sake of seed which is committed to the ploughed 

 furrow, but also for trees and bushes, which thrive in 

 greater measure on this kind of nourishment. Where- 

 fore, if manuring is of the greatest advantage to the 

 farmer, as it appears to be, I believe that it should be 

 discussed ^\ith unusual care, inasmuch as this subject, 

 though not overlooked by the ancient authorities," 

 has nevertheless been given very slight attention. 



XIV. There are, then, mainly, three kinds of 

 manure : that produced by birds, by humankind, and 

 by cattle. Of bird dung that is considered first which 

 is gathered from dove-cotes, and next is that which 

 comes from hens and other fowl, excepting neverthe- 

 less marsh birds or swimming fowl, such as ducks and 

 geese ; for that is actually harmful. Still we especi- 

 ally commend pigeon dung, because we find that a 

 moderate spreading of it causes the earth to ferment ; 

 and second to this is human excrement, if it is mixed 2 

 with other refuse of the farmstead, for by itself it is 

 naturally rather hot and for that reason it burns the 

 ground. Better suited to young shoots, however, is 

 human urine ; and if you let it age for six months and 

 then apply it to vines or fruit trees, there is nothing 

 that makes them bear more abundantly ; and not 

 only will this treatment produce a larger crop but also 



» Cf. Cato, 36; Varro, R.R. I. 38. Of later authorities 

 c/. Pliny, N.H. XVII. 50-57, and PaUadius, I. 33. 



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