Roman Farm Management | Page 8

the public roads worked, briers cut down, the garden dug, the
meadow cleaned, the hedges trimmed and the clippings collected and
burned, the fish pond cleaned out. On such days, furthermore, the
slaves' rations should be cut down as compared with what is allowed
when they are working in the fields in fine weather.

When this routine has been discussed quietly and with good humour
and is thoroughly understood by the overseer, you should give orders
for the completion of the work which has been neglected.
The accounts of money, supplies and provisions should then be
considered. The overseer should report what wine and oil has been sold,
what price he got, what is on hand, and what remains for sale. Security
should be taken for such accounts as ought to be secured. All other
unsettled matters should be agreed upon. If any thing is needed for the
coming year, it should be bought; every thing which is not needed
should be sold. Whatever there is for lease should be leased. Orders
should be given (and take care that they are in writing) for all work
which next it is desired to have done on the farm or let to contract. You
should go over the cattle and determine what is to be sold. You should
sell the oil, if you can get your price, the surplus wine and corn, the old
cattle, the worn out oxen, and the cull sheep, the wool and the hides,
the old and sick slaves, and if any thing else is superfluous you should
sell that. The appetite of the good farmer is to sell, not to buy.[14]
(IV) Be a good neighbour. Do not roughly give offence to your own
people. If the neighbourhood regards you kindly, you will find a readier
market for what you have to sell, you will more easily get your work
done, either on the place or by contract. If you build, your neighbours
will aid you with their services, their cattle and their materials. If any
misfortune should overtake you (which God forbid!) they will protect
you with kindly interest.[15]
Of laying out the farm (I) If you ask me what is the best disposition to
make of your estate, I would say that should you have bought a farm of
one hundred jugera (about 66 acres) all told,[16] in the best situation, it
should be planted as follows: 1° a vineyard, if it promises a good yield,
2° an irrigated garden, 3° an osier bed, 4° an olive yard, 5° a meadow,
6° a corn field, 7° a wood lot, 8° a cultivated orchard, and 9° a mast
grove[17].
(III) In his youth, the farmer ought, diligently to plant his land, but he
should ponder before he builds. Planting does not require reflection, but
demands action. It is time enough to build when you have reached your

thirty-sixth year, if you have farmed your land well meanwhile. When
you do build, let your buildings be proportioned to your estate, and
your estate to your buildings[18]. It is fitting that the farm buildings
should be well constructed, that you should have ample oil cellars and
wine vats, and a good supply of casks, so that you can wait for high
prices, something which will redound to your honour, your profit and
your self-respect.
(IV) Build your dwelling house in accordance with your means. If you
build well in a good situation and on a good property, and furnish the
house suitably for country life, you will come there more often and
more willingly[19]. The farm will then be better, fewer mistakes will
be made, and you will get larger crops. The face of the master is good
for the land.[20]
(VI) Plant elm trees along the roads and fence rows, so that you may
have the leaves to feed the sheep and cattle, and the timber will be
available if you need it. If any where there are banks of streams or wet
places, there plant reeds; and surround them with willows that the
osiers may serve to tie the vines.
(VII) It is most convenient to set out the land nearest the house as an
orchard, whence fire wood and faggots may be sold and the supply of
the master obtained. In this enclosure should be planted every thing
fitting to the land and vines should be married to the trees.[21]
(VIII) Near the house lay out also a garden with garland flowers and
vegetables[22] of all kinds, and set it about with myrtle hedges, both
white and black, as well as Delphic and Cyprian laurel.
Of stocking the farm (X) An olive farm of two hundred and forty
jugera (160 acres) ought to be stocked as follows: an overseer, a house
keeper, five labourers, three ox drivers,