Ancient Latin Writers on Agriculture, Vol. II: Columella

...are to be shunned by good men: there remains, as I have said, one liberal and gentlemanly method of increasing one's family property, which comes from agriculture. If its precepts were administered according to the ancient custom, even if carelessly by the unlearned—provided they were the owners of the fields—rural affairs would suffer less loss. For the industry of the masters would compensate for many of the detriments of ignorance: nor would those for whose benefit the field is worked wish to be seen as ignorant of their own business for their whole lives; and thus, being more eager to learn, they would become thoroughly acquainted with agriculture. Now, we ourselves disdain to cultivate our own estates, and we consider it of no moment to make the most skillful villicus farm manager—or, if he is ignorant, at least one of lively energy, by which he may more quickly learn what he does not know. But if a wealthy man has bought a farm, he relegates to the field some person from his crowd of footmen and litter-bearers who is most deficient in years and strength; whereas this work requires not only knowledge but also a vigorous age with the bodily strength to endure labors. Or, if a master of moderate means is involved, he orders some mercenary—who now refuses that daily tribute [since he cannot pay the tax]—to become the master, even though he is ignorant of the business he is to preside over. When I notice these things, often reflecting and reconsidering with myself by what shameful consensus the discipline of the country has withered away, I fear that it may appear flagitious, and in a way shameful or dishonest, to men of noble birth. But when I am reminded by many monuments of writers that among our ancestors the care of rural life was a matter of glory; from which Quinctius Cincinnatus, the liberator of the besieged consul and army, was called from the plow to...