Agriculture is much followed among them; there is not a
span of earth without cultivation, and they observe the winds
and propitious stars. With the exception of a few left in the
city all go out armed, and with flags and drums and trumpets
sounding, to the fields, for the purposes of ploughing, sowing,
digging, hoeing, reaping, gathering fruit and grapes; and they
set in order everything, and do their work in a very few hours
and with much care. They use wagons fitted with sails which
are borne along by the wind even when it is contrary, by the
marvellous contrivance of wheels within wheels.

And when there is no wind a beast draws along a huge cart,
which is a grand sight.

The guardians of the land move about in the meantime,
armed and always in their proper turn. They do not use dung
and filth for manuring the fields, thinking that the fruit con-
tracts something of their rottenness, and when eaten gives a
short and poor subsistence, as women who are beautiful with
rouge and from want of exercise bring forth feeble offspring.
Wherefore they do not as it were paint the earth, but dig it up
well and use secret remedies, so that fruit is borne quickly and
multiplies, and is not destroyed. They have a book for this
work, which they call the Georgics. As much of the land as is
necessary is cultivated, and the rest is used for the pasturage of
cattle.

The excellent occupation of breeding and rearing horses,
oxen, sheep, dogs, and all kinds of domestic and tame animals
is in the highest esteem among them as it was in the time of