Roman Farm Management | Page 9

one swineherd, one ass driver,
one shepherd; in all thirteen hands: three pair of oxen,[23] three asses
with pack saddles, to haul out the manure, one other ass to turn the mill,
and one hundred sheep.[24]
_Of the duties of the overseer._[25]

(V) These are the duties of the overseer: He should maintain discipline.
He should observe the feast days. He should respect the rights of others
and steadfastly uphold his own. He should settle all quarrels among the
hands; if any one is at fault he should administer the punishment. He
should take care that no one on the place is in want, or lacks food or
drink; in this respect he can afford to be generous, for he will thus more
easily prevent picking and stealing.[26]
Unless the overseer is of evil mind, he will himself do no wrong, but if
he permits wrong-doing by others, the master should not suffer such
indulgence to pass with impunity. He should show appreciation of
courtesy, to encourage others to practise it. He should not be given to
gadding or conviviality, but should be always sober. He should keep
the hands busy, and should see that they do what the master has ordered.
He should not think that he knows more than his master. The friends of
the master should be his friends, and he should give heed to those
whom the master has recommended to him. He should confine his
religious practices to church on Sunday, or to his own house.[27]
He should lend money to no man unbidden by the master, but what the
master has lent he should collect. He should never lend any seed
reserved for sowing, feed, corn, wine, or oil, but he should have
relations with two or three other farms with which he can exchange
things needed in emergency. He should state his accounts with his
master frequently. He should not keep any hired men or day hands
longer than is necessary. He should not sell any thing without the
knowledge of the master, nor should he conceal any thing from the
master. He should not have any hangers-on, nor should he consult any
soothsayer, fortune teller, necromancer, or astrologer. He should not
spare seed in sowing, for that is bad economy. He should strive to be
expert in all kinds of farm work, and, without exhausting himself, often
lend a hand. By so doing, he will better understand the point of view of
his hands, and they will work more contentedly; moreover, he will have
less inclination to gad, his health will be better, and he will sleep more
refreshingly.
First up in the morning, he should be the last to go to bed at night; and

before he does, he should see that the farm gates are closed, and that
each of the hands is in his own bed, that the stock have been fed. He
should see that the best of care is taken of the oxen, and should pay the
highest compliments to the teamsters who keep their cattle in the best
condition. He should see to it that the ploughs and plough shares are
kept in good repair. Plan all the work in ample time, for so it is with
farm work, if one thing is done late, every thing will be late.
(XXXIX) When it rains try to find some thing to do indoors. Clean up,
rather than remain idle. Remember that while work may stop, expenses
still go on.
Of the duties of the housekeeper (CXLIII) The overseer should be
responsible for the duties of the housekeeper. If the master has given
her to you for a wife, you should be satisfied with her, and she should
respect you. Require that she be not given to wasteful habits; that she
does not gossip with the neighbours and other women. She should not
receive visitors either in the kitchen or in her own quarters. She should
not go out to parties, nor should she gad about.[28] She should not
practise religious observances, nor should she ask others to do so for
her without the permission of the master or the mistress. Remember
that the master practises religion for the entire household. She should
be neat in appearance and should keep the house swept and garnished.
Every night before she goes to bed she should see that the hearth is
swept and clean. On the Kalends, the Ides, the Nones, and on all feast
days, she should hang a garland over the hearth. On those days also she
should pray fervently to the household gods. She should take care that
she has food cooked for you and for the hands. She should have plenty
of chickens and an abundance of eggs.[29] She should diligently put up
all kinds of preserves every