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22 particular perons were poeed of large landed etates, then the villas became large and magnificent. In the time of Valerius Maximus, there were villas that covered more ground than was in the etates of ome of the ancient nobles. ‘Now,’ ays he, ‘thoe think themelves very much confined whoe houes are not more extenive than the fields of Cincinnatus .’ In the days of Cato, it is probable that they had begun to extend their villas coniderably, which makes him give a caution to the proprietors of land not to be rah in building. He recommends.to them to ow and plant in their youth, but not to build till omewhat advanced in years. His words are remarkable: ‘A landholder,’ ays he, ‘hould apply himelf to the planting of his fields early in his youth; but he ought to think long before he builds. He ought not to think about planting; but he ought to do it. When he is about thirty-ix years of age, he may ‘build, provided his fields are planted .’ Pliny