[986] M Weber Röm Agrargeschichte p 244. Of course opus is a general term, not technical as operae (= labour units) often is. See Vinogradoff Growth of the Manor note 94 on p 110. From Horace epist I 1 21 opus debentibus I can get no help.
[987] See below, in the chapter on [the African inscriptions].
[988] Caesar civ I 34, 56.
[989] Wallon, Esclavage II 99, 100, refers to the long leasing of municipal estates, held in virtual perpetuity so long as the rent was paid. He cites Gaius III 145. So too estates of temples, and later of the fiscus.
[990] Wallon II 120, cf Digest XXXIII 7 § 19, an opinion of Paulus. It seems to be a sort of métayer system. See [index].
[991] But such as the imbecilli cultores of Plin epist III 19 § 6.
[992] See case referred to by Paulus in Digest XXXI § 86¹.
[993] I praef § 12 ex mercennariis aliquem. In II 2 § 12 operarum vilitas, and IV 6 § 3 operarum paenuria, III 21 § 10 plures operas quantocumque pretio conducere, the hands hired may be slaves.
[994] Of course not necessarily agricultural, in fact generally not. See my article in Journal of Roman Studies 1918, and Index under Emigration.
[995] Very different from the small farmers of old time, who were owners.