160I must tell too what weapons the hardy farmers have, without which the harvests could neither be sown nor spring up: first the ploughshare and the heavy oak of the curved plough, and the slow-rolling wagons of the Eleusinian mother, threshing-sledges and drags and hoes of unwieldy weight; 165besides, the cheap wicker ware of Celeus, arbutus hurdles and the mystic winnowing-fan of Iacchus. 167All these you will mindfully provide long beforehand and store away, if the glory of the god-given countryside is to be yours as you deserve. 169Straight away in the woods an elm is bent with great force and tamed into a plough-beam, and takes the shape of the curved plough.
171To this, from its base, is fitted a pole stretching out eight feet, two earth-boards, and share-beams with a double back; a light linden too is felled beforehand for the yoke, and a tall beech, and a handle, to turn the base of the carriage from behind; and smoke seasons the timbers hung above the hearth.