BOOK III. III. 7-9 



they will easily outdo in the increase of their an- 

 cestral estates all those Avho hold fast to their hay 

 and pot-herbs. And he is not mistaken in this ; for, 

 like a careful accoimtant, he sees, when his calcula- 

 tions are made, that this kind of husbandry is of the 

 greatest advantage to his estate. For, admitting 8 

 that vineyards demand a very generous outlay, still 

 seven iugera require the labour of not more than one 

 vinedresser, upon whom people in general set a low 

 value, thinking that even some malefactor may be 

 acquired from the auction-block;'' but I, disagree- 

 ing with the opinion of the majority, consider a high- 

 priced vinedresser of first importance. And suppos- 

 ing his purchase price to be 6000 or, better, 8000 

 sesterces, w'hen I estimate the seven iugera of ground 

 as acqviired for just as many thousands of sesterces,'' 

 and that the vineyards with their dowry — that is, 

 with stakes and withes — are set out for 2000 

 sesterces per iugerum, still the total cost, reckoned 

 to the last farthing, amounts to 29,000 sesterces. 

 Added to this is interest at six per cent, per annum, 9 

 amounting to 3480 sesterces for the two-year period 

 when the vineyards, in their infancy as it were, are 

 delayed in bearing. The sum total of principal and 

 interest comes to 32,480 sesterces. And if the husband- 

 man would enter this amount as a debt against his 

 vineyards just as a moneylender does with a debtor, 

 so that the owner may realize the aforementioned 

 six per cent, interest on that total as a perpetual 

 annuity, he should take in 1950 sesterces every year. 

 By this reckoning the return from seven iugera, even 

 according to the estimate of Graecinus, exceeds the 



° Lit. the stone, or stone platform, at which slave auctions 

 were held. * I.e. 7000. 



259 



