Roman Farm Management | Page 6

be found in Varro, usually in facts, but some times in
thought and even in words, viz: Before beginning his agricultural
operations a farmer should study the character of the country (G. I, 50:
R.R. I, 6), the prevailing winds and the climate (G. I, 51: R.R. I, 2, 3),
the farming practice of the neighbourhood (G. I, 52: R.R. I, 18, 7), "this
land is fit for corn, that for vines, and the other for trees," (G. I, 54: R.R.
I, 6, 5). He should practise fallow and rotation (G. I, 71: R.R. I, 44, 2),
and compensate the land by planting legumes (G. I, 74: R.R. I, 23); he
should irrigate his meadows in summer (G. I, 104: R.R. I, 31, 5), and
drain off surface water in winter (G. I, 113: R.R. I, 36). Man has
progressed from a primitive state, when he subsisted on nuts and
berries, to the domestication of animals and to agriculture (G. I,
121-159: R.R. II, 1, 3). The threshing floor must be protected from
pests (G. I, 178: R.R. I, 51). Seed should be carefully selected (G. I,
197: R.R. 40, 2); the time for sowing grain is the autumn (G. I, 219:
R.R. I, 34). "Everlasting night" prevails in the Arctic regions (G. I, 247:
R.R. I, 2, 5); the importance to the farmer of the four seasons (G.I. 258;
R.R. I, 27) and the influence of the Moon (G.I. 276: R.R. I, 37).
The several methods of propagating plants described (G. II, 9-34: R.R.
I, 39), but here Varro follows Theophrastus (H.P. II, 1); trees grow
slowly from seed (G. II, 57; R.R. I, 41, 4); olives are propagated from
truncheons (G. II, 63; R.R. I, 41, 6). "The praise of Italy" (G. II,
136-176: R.R. I, 2, 6), where trees bear twice a year (G. II, 150: R.R. I,
7, 6). Certain plants affect certain soils (G. II, 177: R.R. I, 9). A
physical experiment (G. II, 230; R.R. I, 7); the advantage of the
quincunx in planting (G. II, 286: R.R. I, 7). Fence the vineyard to keep
out live stock (G. II, 371: R.R. I, 14); the goat a proper sacrifice to
Bacchus (G. II, 380: R.R. I, 2, 19). Be the first to put your vine props

under cover (G. II, 409: R.R. I, 8, 6).
The points of cattle (G. III, 50: R.R. II, 5, 7); their breeding age (G. III,
61: R.R. II, 5, 13); segregate the bulls before the breeding season (G.
III, 212: R.R. II, 5, 12). Recruit your herd with fresh blood (G. III, 69:
R.R. II, 5, 17). How to break young oxen (G. III, 163: R.R. I, 20).
Of breeding live stock, the males should be fat, the females lean (G. III,
123-129: R.R. II, 5, 12).
The points of a horse (G. III, 79: R.R. II, 7, 5). Mares fecundated by the
wind (G. III, 273: R.R. II, 1, 19). The care of the brood mare (G. III,
138: R.R. II, 7, 10). The bearing of a spirited colt in the field (G. III, 75:
R.R. II, 7, 6); the training of a colt, "rattling bridles" in the stable (G. III,
184: R.R. II, 7, 12).
Supply bedding for the sheep (G. III, 298: R.R. II, 2, 8), the goat stable
should face southeast (G. III, 302: R.R. II, 3, 6). Goats' hair used for
military purposes (G. III, 313: R.R. II, 11, 11.) Goats affect rough
pasture (G. III, 314: R.R. II, 3, 6). A shepherd's daily routine (G. III,
322; R.R. II, 2, 10-11). The life of shepherds in the saltus (G. III, 340:
R.R. II, 10, 6). Beware of a ram with a spotted tongue (G. III, 387: R.R.
II, 2, 4). Anoint sheep as a precaution against scab (G. III, 448: R.R. II,
11, 7).
The location of the bee-stand: a drinking pool with stones in it (G. IV,
26: R.R. III, 16, 27); planted round with bee plants (G. IV, 25: R.R. III,
16, 13), and free from an echo (G. IV, 50: R.R. III, 16, 12). When
saving a swarm sprinkle bees balm and beat cymbals (G. IV, 62: R.R.
III, 16, 7 and 30). Bees at war obey their leaders 'as at the sound of a
trumpet,' but may be quelled by the bee-keeper (G. IV, 70-87: R.R. III,
16, 9 and 35). Keep the mottled king and destroy the black one (G. IV,
90: R.R. III, 16, 18); the "old Corycian" and the brothers Veiani (G. IV,
125: R.R. III, 16, 10): the bees' care of their king (G. IV, 212: R.R. III,
16, 8). Take off the honey twice in the season (G. IV, 221: R.R. III, 16,
34); the generation of bees from the carcase of an ox