# CHAPTER VII.—_Of the Quantity of Land assigned by the Romans to each Colonist._

It would, I think, be difficult to fix with certainty how much land the
Romans allotted to each colonist, for my belief is that they gave more
or less according to the character of the country to which they sent
them. We may, however, be sure that in every instance, and to whatever
country they were sent, the quantity of land assigned was not very
large: first, because, these colonists being sent to guard the newly
acquired country, by giving little land it became possible to send more
men; and second because, as the Romans lived frugally at home, it is
unreasonable to suppose that they should wish their countrymen to be
too well off abroad. And Titus Livius tells us that on the capture of
Veii, the Romans sent thither a colony, allotting to each colonist
three jugera and seven unciae of land, which, according to our
measurement would be something under two acres.

Besides the above reasons, the Romans may likely enough have thought
that it was not so much the quantity of the land allotted as its
careful cultivation that would make it suffice. It is very necessary,
however, that every colony should have common pasturage where all may
send their cattle to graze, as well as woods where they may cut fuel;
for without such conveniences no colony can maintain itself.