Archimedes Texts

102
other People be so distributed, that every one
may be near those Things which are under his
particular Care. Let the Overseer lie near the
principal Gate, that nobody may pass and re
pass or carry any Thing out in the Night with
out his Knowledge. Let those who have the
Care of the Cattle, lie near the Stable, that
they may be always at Hand to keep every
Thing in good Order. And this may be suf
ficient with Relation to your People. Of
Tools or Instruments, some are animate, as
Cattle; and some inanimate, as Carts, all Sorts
of iron Tools, and the like; for these erect on
one Side of the Kitchen a large Shed under
which you may set your Cart, Plough, Har
row, Yoke, Hay-baskets, and the like Utensils;
and let this Shed have a South Aspect, that in
Winter Time the Family may divert themselves
under it on Holydays. Make a very large
and neat Place for your Presses both of Wine
and Oil. Let there be also a Store-house for
the laying up and preserving your Measures,
Hampers, Baskets, Cordage, Houghs, Pitch
forks and so forth. Over the Rafters that run
across within the Shed, you may spread Hur
dles, and upon them you may lay up Poles,
Rods, Staves, Boughs, Leaves and Fodder for
your Oxen, Hemp and Flax unwrought, and
such like Stores. Cattle is of two Sorts; one,
for Labour; as Oxen and Horses; the other,
for Profit, as Hogs, Sheep, Goats, and all Sorts
of Herds. We shall speak first of the labour
ing Sort, because they seem to come under the
Head of Instruments; and afterwards we shall
say something of those which are for Profit,
which belong properly to the Industry of your
Overseer or Farmer. Let the Stables for Horses,
and for Oxen, and all other black Cattle, be
warm in Winter, and let their Racks be strong
and well fenced, that they may not scatter their
Meat. Let the Hay for the Horses be above
them, that they may not reach it without some
Pains, and that they may be forced to raise
their Heads high for it, which makes their
Heads drier and their Shoulders lighter. On
the Contrary, let their Oats and other Grain
lie so as they may be forced to stoop low for
it; which will prevent their taking too large
Mouthfuls, and swallowing too much whole;
besides that it will strengthen their Breast and
Muscles. But above all you must take parti
cular Care that the Wall behind the Manger,
against which the Horse's Head is to stand, be
not damp. The Bone which covers the Horse's
Brain is so thin, that it will bear neither Damp
nor Cold; and therefore take Care also that the
Moon's Beams do not come in at the Win
dows; which are very apt to make him Wall
eyed and to give him grievous Coughs; and
indeed the Moon's Beams are as bad as a Pes
tilence to any Cattle that are infirm. Let the
Oxe's Manger be set lower, that he may eat as
he lyes. If Horses see the Fire, they are pro
digiously frightened and will grow rugged.
Oxen are pleased with the Sight of Men. If a
Mule is set up in a hot or dark Place, she runs
Mad. Some think the Mule does not want so
much as the least Shelter for any other Part
but her Head, and that it is not at all the
Worse if her other Parts are exposed to Dews
and Colds. Let the Ground under the Oxen
be paved with Stone, that the Filth and Dung
may not rot their Hoofs. Under Horses, make
a Trench in the Pavement, and cover it with
Planks of Holm or Oak, that their Urine may
not settle under them, and that by their pawing
they may not spoil both their Hoofs and the
Pavement.

That the Industry of the Farmer or Overseer ought to be employed as well about
all Sorts of Animals, as about the Fruits of the Earth; as also of the Con
struction of the Threshing-floor.

We shall just briefly mention that the
Industry of the Overseer, is not only
to be employed about gathering in the Fruits
of the Earth, but also about the Management
and Improvement of Cattle, Fowls, Fish and
other Animals. Set the Stalls for Cattle in a
dry Place, and never in a Damp one; clear
away every little Stone from under them, and
make them with a Slope, that you may easily
sweep and clean them; let one Part of them
be covered, and the other open, and take Care
that no southerly or other moist Wind can af
fect the Cattle in the Night, and that they be
sheltered from all other troublesome Blasts.