Augustus saw that such a measure led directly to the destruction of husbandry; but to abolish these distributions was to put a weapon within the reach of the first aspirant for power.
"The emperor shrank at the thought.
"While grain was gratuitous, agriculture was impossible.

Tillage gave way to pasturage, another cause of depopulation, even among slaves.
"Finally, luxury, carried further and further every day, covered the soil of Italy with elegant villas, which occupied whole cantons.

Gardens and groves replaced the fields, and the free population fled to the towns.

Husbandry disappeared almost entirely, and with husbandry the husbandman.

Africa furnished the wheat, and Greece the wine.