Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-02-23

tails OF ancient hushandry. There is much
excellent sense, much admirable practice,
many processes which might furnish sugges-
tons Tor modern Improvement but farmers
who resort to them for instruction, will rise |
think from the study, with au impression, that
their agriculture was governed by practices
rather than principles and that there is want
Ing that knowledge of the processes ofvegcta-
ton, the composition of soils, and the rotation
oi crops, which have given 10 modern farming
Its dignity and value. Even these useful pric-
tees too, are often disfgured by lantaslcal
mixture of superstition and empir,ism. When,
Tor instance, we read in Cato minute descrip-
ton OF an incarnation, by which the dslocated
bones Of Il farmer may be charmed back into
their places-when Columella directs us to
save our vines from mice, by trimming them
at night during full moon--when, Sotiun de-
clares that an eifectual mode of extirrating
broom rape from the fields, is TO draw on five
shells the picture of Hercules strangling lion,
and bury one in the middle and one in each
corner Of the field-when DemOcrtus will en-
sure us thriving garden, if we bury an ass's
head In the middle of it-and when no less
than five of the most sober writers gravely de-
scribe the remedy by which the broom-rape
may be driven from all fields and catcrpiaIs
banshed instantly from gardens, which was
To make barefuoted, half-clad woman, with
her hair diShevelled, walk three times round it
when these, and many similar directions are
gwen by the great masters of the science, they
must be received as evidences of its extreme
imperlection. Indeed, no one who will COM
pare the rude plough of the Romans with the
admirable instruments of France and England,
or will contrast the writings of Columella and
SIR John Sinclair, can fail to acknowledge how
much science and the mechanic arts have con-
trbnted 10 agriculture.
We may derive more instruction from their
descendants. So naturally do our recolec-
TONS dwell rather on the past than the present
ltaiy-so much more are we attracted by its
runs than by its prosperity, that we have not
sufficiently admired its agriculture. Yet TIA
~ Is probably at this day the best cultivated
country in Europe. 1t supports from its soil
population greater in proportion to its ex-
tent than any other and such is its admirable
system of culture, so triumphant its Industry
that, though suffering from Inc worst OF all evils,
oppressive and proiiiSate goyeinments-al-
though great extent of country, not less than
700 miles long, and from % - 60 miles wide,
Is III considerable degree lost to cultivation,
by the malaria, which has depopuiated the
f;ilrest part OF the old Roman empire still the
absolute amount Of its produce was never per
haps greater than at present. They have ac-
compiished this, by substituting for the long
lailows OF antiquity judicious rotation OF
crops, aud by terracng the feet and sidns of
Inc mountains, so as to render them eminent
~ productive. The minute division of the
soil forms the peculiar feature of its agrcul-
ture. When the influence of Christianity had
abolished slavery, the manumitted slaves, who
were then the only labourers, became tenants,
and have 50 continued 10 the present day
FNe-sIxtlls ofits population are small farmers,
working the land on shares of one half or one
third. These cutivators Of few acres have
rendered their country SD fertile, that from
one end of Italy To the O tber-from the irri-
gated meadows of Lombardy to the volcanic
regions OF Naples, five except some parts of
the Pope's dominions-thc is scarcely a
single spot which does not pr oducc the utmost
winch ITS situation and natural fertility admits
the eye rests with delight upon the magnili-
cent prospects of Piedmont and the Milanese
on ina, busy SCENE of industry, which sustains
population of one person to every two acres
where three-fourths of its gross produce is
disposabic, and where the fields are constant
~ covered with a succession of varied and a
oundant harvcsts. The district near Vesuvius
mas population of 5000 souls to the square
league, proportion unknown TO any other
part OF Europe while still further south, in
Sorrento, their rotation OF eight crops in FIVE
years, and one OF them cotton crop. is pro-
nounced by competent Judge TO be the best
managed and the most productive OF any in
the world"
1t is however rivallcd, if it be not equalled,
by many parts of Flanders; where from n
soil more fertile than italy, though in a climate
less genial, they extract from their land by in
dustry and the application orsnanures, rapid
succession of crops, probably not inferior to
those OF any other country. The details of
Italian and Flemish husbnndry-the Italian
rotation OF crops, and the Flemish manage
inent oi cattle and manures-are worthy of
attentive study by all Ia Ills country, who
would improve 10 scientific farming. They
would often suggest modes Of culture, better
adapted to our climate than the practices of
England, which we are too prone TO follow
without making allowance for the essential
difference between the seasons of the two
countries.
The general cultivation of Great Britain is
calculated To inspire mingled feeling of adj
mIra:lon aAd surprise of admiration at what
size has accomplished, and surprise at what
she has neglected. She has many advantages:
her exuberant capital, her commerce, her ma
nuiactures, furnishing TO agriculture so large a
oOdy oil domestic consumers, have enabled her
10 cover large portion her soil with pic
turesque and beautiful cultivation, which no
stranger can contemplate without satisfaction
fet nearer inquiry eXcites astonishmcnt,that
this very success has not induced Il more en-
Iargod and better cultivation.
There IS an extraordinary difference in the
calculations of British economical and statisti-
cal writers on that subject but the safest csli-
mates show, that proportion Of from one
thIrd to nearly one-haIf of the surface Of Great
Britain is waste and almost unpr0Juctivc. or
These waste lands, it is again estimated, that one
fourth or one-iifth might he enclosed and cult
Vated, and the rest employed for sheep or for