offering themselves as Candidates for the B. A. Degree. Whilst therefore freely owning my obligations to Mr. Dickson for much valuable information, I am induced at the same time to hope, that the subject-matter admits of being presented in a somewhat more inviting form, so as to contribute to a better understanding, not only of the Scriptores Rei Rustica themselves, but also of works which, like the Georgics of Virgil, fall within the compass of ordinary reading. Moreover, the present work embraces a wider range than Mr. Dickson's professes to do, embodying more completely the idea which the Roman writers entertained of Rural Economy, or Res Rustica, which comprehended, not merely tillage, but also the culture of the vineyard and orchard, the treatment of Domestic Animals of all kinds, the cultivation of a Garden, and other collateral subjects. On all these several topics therefore I have entered in the course of these Lectures, and have thus endeavoured to supply the blank which exists in these respects in Mr. Dickson's work; whilst it has been my endeavour from time to time to throw some additional light upon the condition of Roman Society, by availing myself of the notices respecting it scattered over the Works under my consideration. I have also thought it incumbent upon me to point out, what is known with respect to the nature of the plants mentioned in the Roman writers; although I have been in general more disposed to bring forward what has been suggested by others, than to add any thing of my own; under a sense of the uncertainty which prevails upon this subject, owing to the conflicting statements of ancient authors, and the general vagueness of their descriptions. In appending an Index to so small a Work, my principal motive has been, to enable the Classical Student to acquaint himself more readily with the meaning of those technical terms, which are employed by the Latin Writers in connexion with Agriculture, and other branches of Rural Eco nomy. CONTENTS. LECTURE I. Introductory remarks. Reasons for confining ourselves On Varro's work De Re Rustica-notice of the life of the COMPRISING A SKETCH OF THE 1ST BOOK OF COLUMELLA. Notice of this writer-his introductory remarks in praise of Agriculture-notices of the Agricultural writers that had preceded him-directions as to the purchase of a Farm.- On the Farm or country-house-sketch of what may collected respecting the arrangements of a Roman villa, from Pliny, Columella, and others.-On the modes of cul- tivating land by means of coloni, and by the proprietor himself-cultivation by means of a politor alluded to by Cato, compared to the metairie system now adopted in Italy-why it had gone out in Columella's time-treat- ment of the coloni-requisites for the villicus-treatment of slaves amongst the ancients as compared to that in modern days-qualifications of the various kinds of slaves employed in field labour-comparative value of slave and free labour calculated, by the relative expense of the two, and by the amount of profit obtained in the two instances- ON THE 2ND BOOK OF COLUMELLA. Whether the Earth is becoming effete-modern notions on LECTURE IV. COLUMELLA, BOOK II. CONCLUDED. Crops cultivated by the Romans.-Far or semen adoreum- LECTURE V. COLUMELLA, BOOKS III. IV. V. On the culture of vines-choice of situation for a vineyard- |