Economics

Do you mean, Ischomachus, that the weaker the soil the less seed should be put into it?Yes, of course, Socrates; and you agree when you say that your invariable custom is to make the burden light that is to be borne by the weak.

But the hoers, now, Ischomachus, why do you put them on the corn?I presume you know that in winter there is a heavy rainfall?Of course.Let us assume, then, that part of the corn is waterlogged and covered with mud, and some of the roots are exposed by flooding. And it often happens, you know, that in consequence of rain weeds spring up among the corn and choke it.

All these things are likely to happen.Then don’t you think that in such circumstances the corn needs prompt succour?Certainly.What should be done, do you think, to succour the part that is under the mud?The soil should be lifted.And the part that has its roots exposed?It should be earthed up.

What if weeds are springing up, choking the corn and robbing it of its food, much as useless drones rob bees of the food they have laid in store by their industry?The weeds must be cut, of course, just as the drones must be removed from the hive.

Don’t you think, then, that we have good reason for putting on men to hoe?No doubt; but I am reflecting, Ischomachus, on the advantage of bringing in an apt simile. For you roused my wrath against the weeds by mentioning the drones, much more than when you spoke of mere weeds.

However, I continued, after this comes reaping, I fancy. So give me any information you can with regard to that too. Yes—unless I find that you know just what I do about that subject too. You know, then, that the corn must be cut. I know that, naturally. Are you for standing with your back to the wind when you cut corn, or facing it? Not facing it, no! I think it is irritating both to the eyes and to the hands to reap with cornstalks and spikes blowing in your face.

And would you cut near the top or close to the ground?If the stalk is short, I should cut low down, so that the straw may be more useful; but if it is long, I think it would be right to cut in the middle, in order that the threshers and winnowers may not spend needless trouble on what they don’t want. I imagine that the stubble may be burnt with advantage to the land, or thrown on the manure heap to increase its bulk.

Do you notice, Socrates, that you stand convicted of knowing just what I know about reaping too?Yes, it seems so; and I want to know besides whether I understand threshing as well.Then you know this much, that draught animals are used in threshing?

Yes, of course I do; and that the term draught animals includes oxen, mules and horses.Then do you not think that all the beasts know is how to trample on the corn as they are driven?Why, what more should draught animals know?

And who sees that they tread out the right corn, and that the threshing is level, Socrates?The threshers, clearly. By continually turning the untrodden corn and throwing it under the animal’s feet they will, of course, keep it level on the floor and take least time over the work.So far, then, your knowledge is quite as good as mine.

Will not our next task be to clean the corn by winnowing, Ischomachus?Yes, Socrates; and tell me, do you know that if you start on the windward side of the floor, you will find the husks carried right across the floor?It must be so.

Is it not likely, then, that some will fall on the grain?Yes, it is a long way for the husks to be blown, right over the grain to the empty part of the floor.But what if you start winnowing against the wind?Clearly the chaff will at once fall in the right place.