PREFATORY NOTE 



by the hand of one who is no longer able to speak in 

 defence of his interpretation imposes many a delicate 

 task. Naturally there are numerous passages in the 

 text of Columella, and also in the English version, 

 which I would have handled somewhat differently 

 from the manner in which they were treated by my 

 predecessor if I had been free to shape things de novo. 

 However, this statement applies rather to materials 

 involving the factors of taste and judgment than to 

 those where the essential thought was an issue. 



The reader might be reminded of the Biblio- 

 graphy prepared by the late Professor Ash and 

 included in Vol. I of this Library. The works per- 

 taining to Columella that are there cited were 

 obviously made use of by Professor Forster, as they 

 were also utilized by me. 



Edward H. Heffner. 



