This section of Pliny's Natural History provides a comprehensive manual on the cultivation of grains, leguminous plants, and garden herbs, interspersed with reflections on human industry and the natural order. Pliny begins by defending the Earth against the charge of producing unmitigated evil, noting that humanity alone misuses natural substances for weapons and poisons. He then traces the history of agriculture in Rome, detailing the early laws, the sacred status of the Arval priesthood, and the extreme cheapness of grain in the days when Roman generals farmed their own modest plots.
The text systematically outlines the varieties of cereals—such as wheat, spelt, and barley—and details their physical traits, the soils best suited for them, and the methods of sowing, harrowing, and harvesting. Pliny explains the complex relationship between agricultural timing and the celestial sphere, translating astronomical phenomena into practical instructions for the farmer. He details the rising and setting of constellations like the Pleiades and Arcturus, showing how they signal the changing seasons and dictate the timing of the vintage and the winter sowing.
A significant portion is devoted to the pests and diseases that afflict crops, including mildew, caterpillars, and weeds like darnel, alongside traditional remedies and apotropaic practices used by farmers. The narrative also covers the preparation of various foods and meals, such as polenta, ptisan, and alica, detailing the specific methods of grinding grain and baking bread across different cultures.
Moving beyond field crops, Pliny examines flax, its cultivation, and its essential role in navigation and industry, before turning to the produce of the garden. He contrasts the simple life of early Roman agriculturists with the extravagant luxuries of his own era, lamenting the moral decline associated with excessive wealth. The book concludes with an extensive guide to weather prognostics, drawing on signs derived from the sun, the moon, stars, thunder, plants, and animal behavior to help the farmer anticipate storms and protect the harvest.
