Georgĭca

, a poem of Virgil in four books. The first treats of ploughing the ground; the second of sowing it; the third speaks of the management of cattle, . ; and in the fourth, the poet gives an account of bees, and of the manner of keeping them among the Romans. The word is derived from γεα terra , and ἐργον opus , because it particularly treats or husbandry. The work is dedicated to Mæcenas, the great patron of poetry in the age of Virgil. The author was seven years in writing and polishing it, and in that composition he showed how much he excelled all other writers. He imitated Hesiod, who wrote a poem nearly on the same subject, called Works and Days .