16.11
Suppose, then, we start ploughing in winter? Why, the land will be a bog! How about starting in summer? The land will be hard to plough up.
16.12
It seems that spring is the season for beginning this work. Yes, the land is likely to be more friable if it is broken up then. Yes, and the grass turned up is long enough at that season to serve as manure, but, not having shed seed, it will not grow.
16.13
You know also, I presume, that fallow land can’t be satisfactory unless it is clear of weeds and thoroughly baked in the sun? Yes, certainly; that is essential, I think.
16.14
Do you think that there is any better way of securing that than by turning the land over as often as possible in summer? Nay, I know for certain that if you want the weeds to lie on the surface and wither in the heat, and the land to be baked by the sun, the surest way is to plough it up at midday in midsummer.
16.15
And if men prepare the fallow by digging, is it not obvious that they too must separate the weeds from the soil? Yes, and they must throw the weeds on the surface to wither, and turn up the ground so that the lower spitLiterally, the crude land. may be baked.
17.1
You see, then, Socrates, that we agree about the fallow. It does seem so, to be sure. And now as to the time for sowing, Socrates. Is it not your opinion that the time to sow is that which has been invariably found to be the best by past experience, and is universally approved by present practice?