OF THE THEATRE OF AGRICULTURE,

...cannot be measured by any other standard than the means of our head of the household original: "pere de famille," referring to the master or manager of the estate., so as to, according to these, restrict or expand the boundaries of his land: he shall nevertheless hold as a maxim this counsel of Virgil,

Praise large estates, cultivate a small one. original Latin: "Laudato ingentia rura, Exiguum colito."

To the large estate give praise,

To sowing the small, apply your ways,

rather than setting his fancy on too great a quantity of plowing, so as to overcharge himself with it. Thus, by measuring himself, he will acquire a place of moderate size, rather small than large: which will satisfy his reasonable intention, being—with knowledge, diligence, and moderate expense—cheerfully cultivated and maintained, with more profit than if he embraced too much and held it poorly This reflects the French proverb "Qui trop embrasse, mal étreint," meaning he who tries to do too much achieves little..

The Air, the Water,

He will be completely settled in these opinions when he considers how damaging is the encounter with unhealthy air and water: being forced to use them due to the location of the house, one is continually tormented by several illnesses, as if always having to fight against death. To
The Soil, the Neighbor, and the bad Road, are very inconvenient.

labor upon a disagreeable and almost infertile soil, whose yield does not respond to the expense of cultivation; to be forced by bad neighborhood to live in perpetual worry, and, to protect oneself from the outrages and violence of a wicked man, to fall to such extremity as to resort to the safety of private arms; to be often and unexpectedly inconvenienced by the proximity of a high road, without being able to gain money from the fruits thereof, because the cartage is too difficult and does not lead to a merchant town.

These last two points can be somewhat softened by artifice; even the changes of time, without intervention, through deaths or other events, can bring a remedy: but as such expectations are far too perilous, I judge that he should not be considered a prudent man who, with ready cash, would purchase such and so many pernicious inconveniences. And he will be all the more cooled toward such acquisitions when contemplating how much pleasure proceeds from well-qualified places; as a very great ornament to which is counted the
Of the good Neighbor.

good neighbor, because of the infinite conveniences one receives from his sweet and virtuous conversation, just as Hesiod Hesiod was an ancient Greek poet; his "Works and Days" is a foundational text for ancient agricultural wisdom. has described it,

The good neighbor in your necessity

Runs barefoot to help your family:

But the kinsman dresses at his leisure,

To go see you in your adversity.

Fear not then that your cattle perish

By fraud, having your dear neighbor's favor.

Therefore, the man of understanding, by making use of these directions, will hold them as boundaries, so as not to overstep them in any way, if he desires to be well lodged and accommodated in the fields: assuring himself that in the meeting of these five qualities alone, with their consequences, he will find reason to be content.

Advice for the security of acquisitions.

I do not discourse here on the order you must keep for the security of such acquisitions: whether it be by purchases, exchanges, donations, or other legitimate and ordinary titles. I presuppose that you will only proceed with good counsel and advice. No other direction than a general one could be given to you in such matters, which is: To take good care to keep yourself from being trapped original: "enferré," literally "ironed-in," suggesting a legal or financial entanglement. by contracting inconsiderately with a bad seller; to proceed with restraint, and, if possible, by authority of Justice, which is the surest way, in the acquisition of a
property