Lucius Junius Moderatus, the most voluminous and important Roman writer on rural affairs, was a native of Gades (Cadiz), and flourished about A.D. 42. He was contemporary with Seneca, and resided chiefly at Rome. His works consist of a treatise entitled De Re Rustica, and another De Arboribus. The treatise De Re Rustica is divided into 12 books, of which the tenth is in verse. The treatise De Arboribus was incorporated in early editions with the other, thus making one work in 13 books. The editio princeps was printed by Jenson at Venice 1472, folio (very rare), in a collection of Rei Rusticae Scriptores variis. The Liber De Arboribus was first separated from the other work in an edition published by Aldus, Venise, 1514, 4to. An excellent edition of Columella's works is contained in the Rei Rusticae Scriptores veteres Latini, edited by Gessner, Lips. 1735, 2 vols. 4to, and reprinted there in 1773; but the most complete is that contained in the Scriptores Rei Rusticae of Schneider, 4 vols. 8vo, Lips. 1794. Columella may be ranked among the best writers of the silver age. His works have been translated into English, French, Italian, and German.