LUCIUS JUNIUS MODERATUS COLUMELLA (74)

Roman soldier and farmer in Gades, modern Cádiz, Spain, who wrote extensively on agriculture and related subjects.

He became in early life a tribune of the legion stationed in Syria, but neither an army career nor the law attracted him and he took up farming, succesfully in Italy.

The De re rustica, in 12 books, is his second and fuller treatment of farming and country life; it has survived, as has De arboribus ("On Trees"), which was part of an earlier work. The subjects of the first nine books of the De re rustica are general precepts, land and crops, vines, land dimensions, trees and live-stock. The 10th book, on gardening, was written as a suplement to the Georgics of Virgil. This was intended to close the work, but to fufill a promise to a friend, Columella added the 11th book, on the duties of a bailiff, on what work must be done in each month of the year, and on the culture of gardens and garden herbs. The 12th book concerns the choice and duties of a bailiff´s wife.

Columella was an experienced farmer; he had an attractive enthusiasm for his calling and great pride in it. His style is neat, lucid, and sober, and he avoids technicalities as far as is compatible with giving necessary information.