BOOK VI. HI. 6-iv. I 



13th to June 15th it is proper to cut green forage for 

 them ; supply of it can even be continued until July 

 1st in cooler regions. From then through the whole 

 summer and the following autumn up to November 

 1st, they should be given their fill of leaves, which, 

 however, are not fit for use until matured either by 

 rain or by continual dew. The most highly es- 

 teemed is the foliage of the elm, next comes that of 

 the ash, and, thirdly, that of the poplar ; the least 7 

 satisfactory is that of the holm-oak, the oak and the 

 bay-tree, but these may have to be used after the 

 summer, if all other kinds fail. It is also proper to 

 give them fig-leaves, if there is abundance of them 

 or if it is expedient to strip the trees. Holm-oak- 

 leaves are better than oak-leaves, but they should 

 not be of the kind that has spines, for this is refused 

 by cattle because of the prickles, as also are juniper- 

 leaves. In November and December, during the 8 

 period of sowing, an ox should be given all the food 

 which it wants ; but a modius of mast a head is 

 generally enough and as much chaff as they can eat, 

 or a modius of soaked lupines or seven sextarii of 

 bitter-vetch sprinkled with water and mixed with 

 chaff, or twelve sextarii of chickpeas similarly 

 sprinkled and mixed with chaff, or a modius of grape- 

 skins each, provided that, as I have said above, chaff 

 is generously added to them ; if none of these foods 

 is available, forty pounds of hay should be given by 

 itself. 



IV. It will be no use to give cattle a satisfying i?*" diseases 

 diet unless every care is taken that they are healthy their rem- 

 in body and that they keep up their strength. Both ®*^'**' 

 these objects are secured by administering on three 

 consecutive days a generous dose of medicine com- 



141 



