Bovary p. 165
Do you believe it necessary to work the land and feed the poultry oneself in order to be a farmer? No, rather it is necessary to know the composition of the materials used, the geological resources, the atmospheric behaviour, the quality of the soil, minerals and water as well as the density of the bodies of water and their capillarity! Am I not familiar with these? It is also necessary to possess a deep knowledge of hygiene, management, construction, animal regimes and staff provisions. As well as possessing botanical knowledge; to be able to identify plants. Do you understand? To be able to separate the edible from the toxic, the weed from the grain.