705. Georgics, Book 1 by Virgil

705.  Georgics, Book 1 by Virgil. 

Virgil: 1. recommends that the best time to plow is when chill leaves the air and the clods of earth have dried somewhat from the west wind after it has twice felt the sun and night's frost.  

Sounds like good advice.  At least from the point of view of an amateur gardener.

2.  advice to a new farmer- learn the winds, the custom of the area, what the land allows and what it refuses.

3.  Let the land rest between crops or use legumes in a crop rotation.  Do not plant certain crops such as flax year after year as it is not good for the soil.

4.  spread manure, ashes, burn a field sometimes as this gets ride of weeds, nourishes the soil.

5.  irrigate with water stored up hill

6.  at one point it seems that he may be describing furrows with raised soil with plants between the soil (To catch the rain?)

7.  emphasizes the importance of keeping the biggest seeds for the next year and the dangers of not doing so.

8.  Farmers needed bent wood for the plow.  Virgil mentions a clever method.  Find a branch of the size needed, weight it to the ground.  After having been in that position for some time, it holds that shape.

9.  it is very clear that farmers planted by the stars not a calendar.  This I add because I have read books by some pretty hefty scholars who mentioned that Caesar fixed the calendar in order to bring the seasons around to correct time so that farmers would know when to plant.  Duh.

10.  there is a very pretty scene of a wife weaving and the sound of her shuttle whizzing along.  He points out that farmers work hard but have fun, particularly during the winter.

11.  mentions a reaper to remove the heads of grain.  Interesting.

12.  bad weather always give signs- the reason to learn and follow the stars and sky.  He mentions the importance of watching the movements of cranes, heifers flaring their nostrils, swallows flying low, frog sounds, noticing that an ant is bringing eggs to the surface (in anticipation of rain?), women while working noticing the lamps sputtering.

13. Observe the world around us, sounds like a wise message.  Not much done anymore.

Beautiful language and great advice about getting in contact with nature.