Of Husbandry: in Twelve Books: and His Book Concerning Trees

by Lucius Junius Moderatus Columella

For other English-language translations of this work, see De Re Rustica (Columella).

For other English-language translations of this work, see De Arboribus.

Layout 2

L. JUNIUS MODERATUS COLUMELLA

OF

HUSBANDRY.

IN

TWELVE BOOKS:

AND HIS

BOOK

CONCERNING

TREES.

Translated into English, with several Illustrations from Pliny, Cato, Varro, Palladius, and other antient and modern AUTHORS.

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Ecclesiastes, Chap. V. Ver. 9. The Profit of the Earth is for All; the King himself is served by the Field.

Ecclesiasticus, Chap. VII. Ver. 15. Hate not Husbandry, which the Most High hath ordained.

Virg. Georg. Lib. I.

—— Pater ipse colendi
Haud facilem esse viam voluit, primusque per artem
Movit agros, curis acuens mortalia corda.

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LONDON:
Printed for A. Millar, opposite to Catharine-street in the Strand.
M.DCC.XLV.

THE

CONTENTS.

Book First.

Chap. I.	Of the Rules which they who would live in the Country, and apply themselves to Husbandry, ought to follow.
II.	Of the most approved Situation and Qualities of Land.
III.	Of such Things as are principally to be considered, in viewing and examining Land before it be bought.
IV.	Of the Wholsomeness of Countries.
V.	Of Water.
VI.	Of the Position and Disposition of a Manor-house.
VII.	Of the Offices of a Master of a Family.
VIII.	Of Cattle, and of Herdsmen and Shepherds, and such as have the Oversight of Cattle.
IX.	Of what Size, and Plight of Body, the Slaves must be, which are to be assigned to every particular Work.

 

Book Second.

Chap. I.	That the Earth neither grows old, nor wears cut, if it be dunged.
II.	Of the several Kinds of Land.
III.	Of the Care that is to be taken of Oxen when they are unyoked.
IV.	Of the Time of the Year when, and how Lands must be plowed.
V.	Of the Manner of dunging lean, thin Land.
VI.	Of the several Sorts of Seeds.
VII.	Of the several Sorts of Pulse.
VIII.	Of the proper Time for Sowing.
IX.	How many Modii of Seed a Jugerum of Land requires; and of the Cure of Seeds.
X.	Of the proper Soil for every Kind of Pulse.
XI.	Of the several Sorts of Fodder, of Medic or Lucern, Vetches or Tares, Miscelline, Oats, Fenugreek, the bitter Vetch, and the Chickpease.
XII.	After what Manner, and with what Number of Labourers, each Sort of Corn and Pulse may be cultivated.
XIII.	How many Day-Labourers may be assigned to every Sort of Land, in Proportion to the Extent of it, and to the Manner of cultivating it.
XIV.	What Sorts of Pulse are hurtful to Lands, and what are of Benefit to them.
XV.	Of the several Sorts of Dung.
XVI.	At what Times Lands must be dunged.
XVII.	After what Manner arable Lands may be reduced into Meadows.
XVIII.	After what Manner Meadows, when they are made, must be cultivated.
XIX.	After what Manner Hay ought to be managed, when it is cut down; and bow it ought to be laid up.
XX.	Of making and putting a Threshing-floor into due Order.
XXI.	Of reaping Corns, and of threshing them.
XXII.	What Things an Husbandman may lawfully do upon Holidays, and what not.

 

Book Third.

Chap. I.	What Kind of Vine may be proper for every Soil, and suitable to the State of the Climate.
II.	What Vines must be planted for Food in Lands near the City.
III.	That there is nothing of greater Advantage, and more expedient for Husbandmen, than to cultivate Vineyards.
IV.	What Things he ought to observe, who plants Vineyards.
V.	In what Sort of Ground, and after what Manner a Nursery of Vines must be planted.
VI.	What Sort of Shoot or Cutting must be chosen, and from what Parts of the Vine it must be gathered.
VII.	How you may know and discover the Fruitfulness of a Vine.
VIII.	What Quality you are principally to have regard to, in Ground that you destine for Vineyards.
IX.	How you may make Aminean Vines fruitful.
X.	From what Part of the Vine the Plants must be chosen.
XI.	What Qualities you must have regard to in that Ground which you destine for Vineyards.
XII.	Of such Things as Julius Græcinus delivered to us, concerning Land proper for Vineyards.
XIII.	After what Manner the Earth ought to be pastinated.
XIV.	How many Ways a Vine may be planted, either in Italy, or in the Provinces.
XV.	That it is better to plant in pastinated Ground, than in Trenches or Furrows made in fallow Ground, or in that which is newly broken up.
XVI.	What Measure or Quantity of pastinated Ground may be sufficient for Vineyards.
XVII.	After what Manner, and at what Time a Vine is to be planted.
XVIII.	What Things one ought to observe who plants a Vine.
XIX.	How long the Cutting ought to be.
XX.	How many Kinds of Vines are to be planted.
XXI.	Whether the several Kinds of Vines are to be planted in distinct Divisions, separately by themselves.

 

Book Fourth.

Chap. I.	That Trenches of Two Feet are not deep enough for Vine-plants, contrary to the Opinion of Atticus and Celsus.
II.	That the Branches of one Quickset ought not to clothe Two Props, but every single Plant must have its own Prop assigned to it.
III.	That a Vineyard newly planted will speedily decay and perish, if it is not supported by great and assiduous Culture.
IV.	That the Vine ought to be laid flat in the Trench; and after bending it back from the Bottom of the same, and raising it up straight, it ought to be applied to a Reed.
V.	After the Vines are planted, we must dig the Ground every Month, and take care that Weeds do not spring up in it; and the Quicksets must be reduced to one single Branch of Firmwood.
VI.	That superfluous Leaves and Twigs ought to be cut off from Quicksets and Cuttings.
VII.	That then is the due Season for pampinating, when the Twigs can be struck off with the Finger.
VIII.	That a Vineyard must be ablaqueated in the Autumn.
IX.	After what Manner an ablaqueated Vine must be pruned.
X.	Of the best Time for pruning.
XI.	How a Cutting ought to be cut and lopped.
XII.	After what Manner a Vineyard must be propped; and of the single Frame for Vines.
XIII.	After what Manner a Vine is to be tied.
XIV.	Cuttings must be put upon a Frame, and how high the single Frame or Rail must be raised.
XV.	After what Manner a Vineyard must be recruited; and how Layers are to be made.
XVI.	At what Time a Quickset must be transplanted.
XVII.	After what Manner a Frame must be made with Reeds.
XVIII.	Of dividing a Vineyard into small Orchards.
XIX.	Of the Position of a Frame, and how far it must be raised above the Ground.
XX.	Of the Business of binding Vines.
XXI.	Of the Way and Manner of pruning a young Vineyard.
XXII.	After what Manner old Vineyards are to be restored.
XXIII.	After what Manner Vineyards must be pruned.
XXIV.	Of such Things as a good Vine-dresser ought to avoid or pursue in a well-constituted Vineyard.
XXV.	Of the Figure of the Bill or Pruning-knife.
XXVI.	Of the Care of propping a Vineyard, and putting it upon Frames.
XXVII.	What Things a good Vine-dresser ought to avoid or pursue in a Vineyard already constituted, and put into good Order.
XXVIII.	How a Vineyard ought to be pampinated; and how many Diggings are necessary for sufficiently cultivating it.
XXIX.	Of ingrafting Vines, and preserving the Ingrastments.
XXX.	Of Directions relating to Props for Vines, and to Osiers, and Willow-groves.
XXXI.	Of Broom.
XXXII.	Of Ground planted with Reeds.
XXXIII.	Of Chesnut-trees, and Chesnut-groves.

 

Book Fifth.

Chap. I.	After what Manner you ought to measure the given Forms of Lands.
II.	Of the several Forms of Lands, and of their Dimensions.
III.	How many Plants a Jugerum of Land may receive, when they are set at the Distance of Three Feet, and from that to the Distance of Ten Feet from each other.
IV.	Of the Culture of provincial Vineyards.
V.	A Repetition of those Things which have been mentioned by their several Kinds.
VI.	Of making Groves and Plantations of Elms.
VII.	Of Gallic Plantations of Trees for supporting Vines.
VIII.	Of the several Sorts of Olive-trees.
IX.	Of making Nurseries for Olive-yards.
X.	Of pomiserous Trees.
XI.	Of Ingrafting of Trees.
XII.	Of the Cytisus or Shrub-trefoil.

 

Book Sixth.

Chap. I.	Of buying Oxen, and of their Shape and Make.
II.	Of breaking of Oxen.
III.	Of the Care that is requisite in buying of Oxen, and of the Food that is proper for them.
IV.	Of the Diseases of Oxen, and of their Remedies.
V.	Of such Things as bring the Plague upon Cattle, and what Remedies are to be applied.
VI.	Of Remedies to be applied to Oxen that are disordered with Indigestion.
VII.	With what Remedies the Pain of the Belly, and of the Intestines of Cattle, may be quieted.
VIII.	Of a distempered Growth or Swelling of the Tongue.
IX.	Of the Fever of Oxen.
X.	Of the Cough of Oxen.
XI.	Of Remedies for an Impostume.
XII.	Of the Remedy to be applied to an Ox that is lame.
XIII.	Of Remedies for curing the Scab, and the Bite of a mad Dog, or a Wolf; and also for curing Hidebinding.
XIV.	Of Remedies for ulcerated Lungs, and Swelling of the Palate and Neck.
XV.	Of curing their Pasterns or Hoofs when they are hurt.
XVI.	Of Remedies for their sprained Shoulders, and broken Horns.
XVII.	Of Remedies against the Bitings of Serpents, and other noxious Animals.
XVIII.	Of Remedies to be given them when they have swallowed an Horseleech with their Water.
XIX.	Of a Machine in which Cattle are shut up when their Sores are dressed.
XX.	Of the Form and Shape of a Bull.
XXI.	Of the Form or Shape of a Cow.
XXII.	Of reviewing and picking the Cattle every Year.
XXIII.	Of making Inclosures and Stables.
XXIV.	Of the Age fit for a Bull to couple with the Female.
XXV.	Of Remedies for Worms in Calves.
XXVI.	Of castrating Calves.
XXVII.	Of Horses.
XXVIII.	Of the Age of a Stallion.
XXIX.	Of the Temper, Disposition, and Form of an Horse.
XXX.	Of the Care of Horses, and of Medicines proper for them.
XXXI.	Of Remedies for a Cough.
XXXII.	Of Remedies for Hurts by interfering, and for the Scab.
XXXIII.	Of Remedies against Flies, and for Pains in the Eyes.
XXXIV.	Of Remedies for Nauseating of their Food, and a pestilential Falling away of their Flesh.
XXXV.	Of Madness incident to Mares.
XXXVI.	Of Mules.
XXXVII.	Of restraining the Cruelty of a Stallion mad upon gratifying his Lust.
XXXVIII.	Of Medicines for curing Mules.

 

Book Seventh.

Chap. I.	Of the small He-ass.
II.	Of buying and managing of Sheep.
III.	Of chusing Rams.
IV.	Of covered Sheep.
V.	Of Remedies for Sheep-Cattle.
VI.	Of Goat-Cattle.
VII.	Of Medicines for Goats.
VIII.	Of the Method of making Cheese.
IX.	Of Swine, and Medicines proper for them.
X.	Of Medicines proper for Swine.
XI.	Of Castrating of Swine.
XII.	Of Dogs.
XIII.	Of Diseases incident to Dogs, and of the Way of curing them.

 

Book Eighth.

Chap. I.	Of Pasturing in and about the Manor-house.
II.	Of the several Kinds of common Poultry-yard Hens and Cocks, proper to be provided and brought up.
III.	Of the right Contrivance and making of an Hen-house.
IV.	Of Food proper for Hens.
V.	Of preserving the Eggs, and setting them under the Hens.
VI.	Of Eggs.
VII.	Of fattening and cramming of Hens.
VIII.	Of cramming of Wood-Pigeons, or Ring-Doves, or tame Pigeons, that breed in little Cells about the House, and of making Pigeon-houses.
IX.	Of the bringing up of Turtle-Doves.
X.	Of the bringing up of Thrushes.
XI.	Of the bringing up of Peacocks.
XII.	Of the bringing up of Numidian and Rustic Hens.
XIII.	Of Fowls, which the Greeks call ἀμφίβια (amphibious), and the Latins duplicis vitæ (of a double Life).
XIV.	Of the bringing up of Geese, and making a Goose-pen for keeping and feeding them.
XV.	Of Ducks, Teals, and the like.
XVI.	Of Fish-ponds, and of feeding of Fishes.
XVII.	Of the Situation of a Fish-pond.

 

Book Ninth.

Chap. I.	Of making Parks, and shutting up wild Cattle in them.
II.	Of Bees.
III.	Of the several Kinds of Bees, and which of them is the best.
IV.	Of the Pastures proper for Bees, and what Sort of Situation the same ought to have.
V.	Of chusing Seats for Bees.
VI.	Of such Sorts of Bee-hives as ought to be approved.
VII.	After what Manner the Hives must be placed.
VIII.	Of purchasing Bees, and how wild Swarms may be taken.
IX.	After what Manner our own Country-Bees ought to be observed, and put up in Hives.
X.	Of the Form and Make of the King of the Bees.
XI.	How the Smallness of the Number of the Bees may be remedied.
XII.	Of putting up a Swarm of Bees into their Hive, and hindering them from making their Escape.
XIII.	Of Remedies for Bees labouring under any Distemper.
XIV.	Of that which the Bees do at all Times, and what the Person that has the Care of them ought to do.
XV.	Of the Making of Honey, and of the Time when the Hives ought to be castrated.
XVI.	Of the Making of Wax.

 

Book Tenth.

Of the Culture of Gardens, in Verse.

 

Book Eleventh.

Chap. I.	What Things ought to be done within the Manor-house by a Man advanced to, and intrusted with the Office of a Bailiff.
II.	What must be done every Month, by accommodating all Sorts of Work to the Times and Seasons.
III.	Of the Culture of Gardens, and of Garden-herbs, in Prose.

 

Book Twelfth.

Chap. I.	Of the Care that the Bailiff's Wife ought to take of the Houshold-affairs, and of the Precepts she ought to observe.
II.	After what Manner she ought to manage the Provisions, or the Store-houses.
III.	Of the Distribution of the Implements of Husbandry, and the Houshold-furniture.
IV.	What Kinds of Vessels she ought to prepare for salting and pickling Provisions, and for Conserves.
V.	How Vinegar may be made of flat Wine.
VI.	How strong Brine or Pickle may be made.
VII.	What Herbs may be pickled throughout the Four Seasons of the Year, and after what Manner.
VIII.	How Oxygal, or sour Milk may be made.
IX.	Of pickling of Lettuce.
X.	Of preserving of Onions, Pears and Apples, and all Fruits of the Apple-kind.
XI.	Of the Composition of a sweet Water, which they use for the preserving of Fruit.
XII.	Of the Way to make Mead.
XIII.	Of preserving Cheese, and pickling certain Herbs.
XIV.	Of drying Apples and Pears in the Sun.
XV.	Of dry Figs.
XVI.	Of making dried Raisins, or Raisins of the Sun, and preserving Sorb-apples.
XVII.	Of making Vinegar of Figs.
XVIII.	Of such Things as must be prepared for the Vintage.
XIX.	Of several Compositions for preserving and strengthening Wine.
XX.	Of boiling Must into one Half, or one Third of the first Quantity.
XXI.	Of Rob of Grapes, or Must boiled in to a third Part of its first Quantity, put to Wine, to preserve it till it become old.
XXII.	Another Medicament of liquid Pitch (or Tar) wherewith you may preserve Wine.
XXIII.	Of Pitch, which the Savoyards use for preserving of pitched Wine.
XXIV.	Of Nemeturian Pitch.
XXV.	Of salt Water and strong Brine for preserving Wines.
XXVI.	Of Remedies for Wine that grows sour.
XXVII.	Of making sweet Wine.
XXVIII.	Of other wholsome Sorts of Preserves.
XXIX.	After what Manner Must may be kept always sweet, as if it were new.
XXX.	Of the best Way of curing Wine, and of Remedies for Wine that is upon the Decay.
XXXI.	Of Remedies in case any living Creature fall into the Must, and perish in it.
XXXII.	Of Horehound-wine.
XXXIII.	Of Squil wine.
XXXIV.	Of Squil-vinegar.
XXXV.	How you must make Wormwood-wine, Hyssop-wine, Southernwood- and other Sorts of Wine.
XXXVI.	Of Must of the last Pressing, or squeezed Must.
XXXVII.	To make Wine like to Greek Wine.
XXXVIII.	How you may make Myrtle-wine.
XXXIX.	After what Manner Wine may be made of Grapes dried in the Sun.
XL.	How the best small thin Wine may be made.
XLI.	How to make the best Honey-wine.
XLII.	Of preserving Cheese.
XLIII.	After what Manner potted Grapes may be put up and kept.
XLIV.	After what Manner Pomegranates may be preserved.
XLV.	How Globe-apples, or Pome-paradises, Honey-apples, Sestian Apples, and other Kinds may be preserved.
XLVI.	Of pickling of Elecampane.
XLVII.	Of pickling of Olives.
XLVIII.	Of the Way to pickle black Olives.
XLIX.	How a Marmelade of Olives may be made.
L.	After what Manner Oil may be made.
LI.	Of Gleucine Oil.
LII.	After what Manner you may make Oil for Ointments.
LIII.	Of salting of Swines Flesh.
LIV.	After what Manner you may pickle Turneps and Navews.
LV.	How you may make Mustard.
LVI.	After what Manner you may preserve and pickle the Alissander- and Skirret-Roots.
LVII.	How to make up a Sallet of easy and quick Digestion, or, as others will have it, a Sallet or Sawce with a Mixture of Garum and Vinegar.

 

The BOOK concerning TREES.

Chap. I.	Of a Nursery of Vines.
II.	What Sorts of Plants or Shoots you ought to gather, and when.
III.	After what Manner you may choose your Shoots; and of the Quality and Condition of the Ground.
IV.	Of the several Kinds of Vineyards.
V.	After what Manner Vines ought to be cultivated.
VI.	Of cutting and propagating an old Vineyard.
VII.	Of propagating Vines.
VIII.	Of Ingraftments from Fruit-bearing Vines, in order to make Vines fruitful.
IX.	How a Cluster of Grapes may have Berries of several Kinds.
X.	How you may prune the Vines, after you have gathered the Grapes.
XI.	Of pampinating a Vineyard, or pulling off its superfluous Shoots and Leaves.
XII.	Of digging of Vineyards.
XIII.	To preserve the Vines from being hurt by Mildew.
XIV.	To prevent the Ants from climbing up upon Trees.
XV.	How to prevent Ants and Vine-fretters from vexing the Vine.
XVI.	Of Plantations of Trees for supporting Vines.
XVII.	Of Olive-yards.
XVIII.	Of constituting an Orchard.
XIX.	Of making Trenches.
XX.	How you may choose the Plants for an Orchard.
XXI.	When the Fig-tree must be planted.
XXII.	Of planting Nuts.
XXIII.	Of planting the Pomegranate.
XXIV.	Of the Pear-tree.
XXV.	Of planting Apples.
XXVI.	Of ingrafting Trees.
XXVII.	That Cyons of all Kinds may be graffed upon all Sorts of Trees whatsoever.
XXVIII.	Of the Cythisus, or Shrub-trefoil.
XXIX.	Of the Willow-tree, of Broom, and of the Reed.
XXX.	Of the Violet, and the Rose.

A Brief Explication of a few Original Words retained in this Translation.

• Jugerum, a superficial measure of land among the Romans, consisting of 28800 Roman feet, which make Engl. Feet.
  27849, Dec.#Latin
  60. See a further account of it lib. v. cap. 1.
• Modius, a dry measure of capacity, which contained a little more than a Winchester peck. See it further explained page 64.
• Ligula, signified at first a spoon, but was afterwards used as a measure, and is the smallest mentioned by Columella, and very little more than the 48th part of a pint.
• Cyathus, a measure of liquid things: it contained 4 ligulæ, and was a little more than the 12th part of a pint.
• Hemina contained 24 ligulæ, or six cyathi, and was a little more than half a pint.
• Sextarius, a measure both of liquid and dry things: it contained two heminæ, 12 cyathi, or 48 ligulæ: it made a little more than a wine-pint; and it was so called, because it was the sixth part of the congius.
• Urna, a measure of liquid things, which contained 24 sextarii, and amounted, in English measure, to 3 gallons 4½ pints, and a small fraction more.
• Amphora, contained 2 urnæ, or 48 sextarii, amounting, in English measure, to 7 gallons, one pint, and a small fraction of a pint: it was also a measure of liquid things.
• Culleus or culeus, the greatest measure of liquid things among the Romans: it contained 20 amphoræ, in English measure 143 gallons, 3 pints, and a small fraction. See a more distinct account of these larger measures in page 118.
• Sestertius, a Roman coin, of the value of two asses and a half; four of them made a denarius, which, by the best judges, is computed to be worth 7 d. ¾. English money. See a further account of it in page 119.
• To ablaqueate, is to dig round a vine, or any other tree, in order to lay its roots bare, and expose them to the Sun, Wind, and Rain, and to cut off the superfluous roots, &c. See page 168.
• To pampinate, is to strike off the superfluous shoots and twigs of vines, in order to make them more able to nourish their fruit, &c. See page 196.
• To sarcle, or sarculate, is to move the surface of the ground hardened by the Sun, &c. in order to make it imbibe the Rain, and admit the warmth of the Sun, that so what grows upon it may thrive the better.