Buying and Developing a Farm Selecting the Property

When thinking of running a farm, always remember: do not buy on a whim, take the trouble to visit, do not suppose a single look will be enough. If it is a

good property, then the more you go, the happier you will be. Notice the looks of the neighbours. In a good district, they ought to look well. And while

you visit and inspect, leave yourself a way out.  It must have good weather; it must not be liable to storms. It must thrive

from its own excellence and from its good location: if possible, it should be at the root of a mountain, south-facing, in a healthy position. There must be

plenty of labour and a good water supply. There must be a sizeable town nearby, or the sea, or a river used for traffic, or a good and well-known road.

It should be one of the properties that is not always changing its owners, and whose sellers regret having had to sell. 

It should have good buildings: never carelessly dismiss another’s expertise. It is better to buy from a good husbandman and a good builder. When you come to the farm buildings, check that there are plenty of presses and vats (remember that the lack of them means a lack of produce) but not too much farm equipment. It is to be in a good position: see that it is not wasteful, and

requires the least possible equipment. A property, like a man, may bring money in, yet be so wasteful that little is left. 

If you ask me what would make a farm the first choice, I will say this: varied ground, a prime position and a hundred iugera; then, first the vineyard (or an abundance of wine), second an irrigated kitchen garden, third a willow wood, fourth an olive field, fifth a meadow, sixth a grain-field, seventh a

plantation of trees, eighth an orchard, ninth an acorn wood. 

100 x Area (hectare) x Annual Rainfall x Runoff Coefficient