in. I,

were

but eS to same

Italy,

ature ants ], the

rably severe nage; yentle

ations

f hills ferent ‘ream, north- 0, and ree in water ried in >; but clivity ot too 1 bya tt and Pal. ot of a » latter

ly clay ur and ne and

black y clay, 1, free

Ye In

on the in the 2, but ttle of re the

of the

The > were game, f part althus villas, tf this 1 both f the

which

As te, by inder ntry 5 n the ne as

Book I. AGRICULTURE OF THE ROMANS. 17

food and drink, and also of the fig as an article of nourishment, are habits which arise mediately from the circumstance of these articles being the artificial produce of the country; but are ultimately, like most other habits, to be referred to the climate.

70. These hints respecting the natural and agricultural geography of Italy, during the time of the Romans, are confessedly too scanty to be of more use than to recal to the reader’s recollection the information on the same subject with which his mind is already stored; and by this means to enable him to form a due estimate of the nature and merits of the agriculture which we are about to describe.

Secr. IV. Of the Culture and Farm Management of the Romans.

71. The Roman authors are much more copious in describing farm culture and economy, than in relating the state of landed property as to extent and proprietorship. Their directions, being founded on experience, are in great part applicable at the present day: they are remarkable for their minuteness; but we can only give a very brief compen- dium, beginning with some account of the farm and the villa, or farmery, and taking in succession the servants, beasts of labor, implements, operations, crops cultivated, animals reared, and profit produced.

Sussecr. 1. Of the Choice of a Farm, and of the Villa or Farmery.

72. In the choice of a farm, Cato recommends a situation where there are plenty of artificers, and good water; which has a fortified town in its neighbourhood; is near the sea, or a navigable river, or where the roads are easy and good,(Cat. cap.1.) To these requisites Varro adds, a proper market for buying and selling, security from thieves and robbers, and the boundaries planted with useful trees. The interior of the farm was not subdivided by inclosures, which were seldom used but for their gardens, and in the villas of the wealthy, to form a park.

73. The soil preferred by Columella and all the Roman authors, is the fat and free, as producing the greatest crops, and requiring the least culture: next, fat, stiff soil; then, stiff and lean soil, that can be watered; and, last of all, lean, dry soil.

74. The state of a farm preferred by Cato and some other writers is that of pasture, meadow, and watered grass-lands, as yielding produce at least expence; and lands under vines and olives, as producing the greatest profit according to the expence. The opinions of the Roman agriculturists, however, seem to disagree on the subject of meadows, apparently from confounding a profitable way of management, with a capacity of yielding great profit with superior management, and none without.

75. The word Villa originally denoted a farm-house and its appurtenances. In the first age of the commonwealth, these were very plain and small, suitable to the plain manners of the people, and adapted to the small size of their farms: but, when the Romans had extended their empire, when they had become rich and luxurious, and particular persons were possessed of large landed estates, then the villas became large and magnificent. In the time of Valerius Maximus, there were villas that covered more ground than was in the estates of some of the ancient nobles.« Now,’ says he,* those think themselves very much confined whose houses are not more extensive than the fields of Cincinnatus.”(Val. Maz. lib. iv. cap. 4. sect. 7.) In the days of Cato, it is probable that they had begun to extend their villas considerably, which makes him give a caution to the proprietors of land not to be rash in building. He recommends to them to sow and plant in their youth, but not to build till somewhat advanced in years. His words are remarkable:‘ A landholder,’’ says he,“ should apply himself to the planting of his fields early in his youth; but he ought to think long before he builds. He ought not to think about planting; but he ought to do it. When he is about thirty-six years of age, he may build, provided his fields are planted.”(Cat. cap. 3.)

76. Men should plant in their youth, and not build till their fields are planted; and even then ought“ not to be in a hurry, but take time to consider. It is best, according to the proverb, to profit by the folly of others.”(Plin. Nat. Hist. lib. xviii, cap, 5. The reason why these authors recommend” greater attention to planting than building is, that the labouring oxen in Italy, in the time of the Romans, were fed, for several months in the year, with leaves and mast; and the vine, the fig, the olive, and other trees, were cultivated for their fruit,

77. Build in such a manner that your villa may not need a farm, nor your farm need a villa.(Cat. cap. 3.) Varro assigns proper reasons for this,-« In not attending,” says he,‘‘ to the measure of the farm, many have gone wrong. Some have made the villa much. smaller, and others much Jarger than the farm required. One of these is contrary to a man’s interest, and the other hurtful to the produce of his Jands, For we both build and repair the larger buildings at a greater expense than is necessary; and, when the buildings are less than what the farm requires, the fruits are in danger of being destroyed.”’(Var. de R. RK. lib. i. cap. 11.) Columella expresses himself to the same purpose, and mentions two persons in particular who had fallen into

C