ON WOAD

describes two species of it, of which
the one is cultivated and the other is
wild. But omitting the latter, as it is
unknown to our people, and since the
method of cultivation of the former
genus is known to others as well, I
shall now describe only the cultivated
variety, and that method of cultivation
which is customary among our people,
according to the meager capacity of
my talent, and I shall set it forth.
It is sown first in a very fertile and
very rich field, and this is done after
the earth has been turned over very
often, or after the third, fourth, and
sometimes the fifth, or even the
sixth plowing. The earth is care-
fully selected, and the furrows are
drawn or joined together as closely
as possible, yet the lowest part of the
soil is rooted up and worked with
such diligence that one cannot easily
distinguish where the plowshare
has passed. For this purpose, certain
industrious farmers yoke as many as
six horses to the plow, so that, with
a deeper plowing completed in the
more favorable soil, and with the
clods warmed by the sun, it may
produce more thriving