The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-11-22

OF gardens and orchards, and Icrmi
nus as the guardian spirit Of the boun
dares between neighbors, to protect
the limits of their lands and to punish
their eucroachmcn,s. Yet through
all this maze Of superstition and inn
nginary worship, we may discover
something Of the progress Of society
in those far distant days; for as the
pursuits OF men, no less than their
virtues and their passions, were the
object Of their idolatry, so we may
discover, in the various offices and
duties ofthcir several gods, something
OF the habits and occupation Of the
people, the arts they studied and the
industrial pursuits they p:actised. =
There is no doubt that among those
nations of antiquity, who attained to
be organized communities, and whose
histories have come down TO US, that
agriculture was their earliest ard chief
pursuit and it is equally true, that
the Georgia races, i'll every period Of
the world, have always far cxccIlcd
the nonuadic tribes, whn subsist by
the pasturagc of their flucks aud herds.
i'll every department. both Of arts aud
arms.
10 trace the history Of any subject
that engages our attention, is always
a apleaSing and instructive study. The
human mind is never content merely
10 taste the stream where it happens
to meet it, but is ever seeking to dis
cover its source, and to drink at the
fountain Of it's gushing waters. The
earliest records make mention of the
cultivation Of the earth by .man, and
Cowpcr. the modest bard ri' England,
speaking Of Agricultural labor says !:
"I II is the primal curse
l!n. sef!cn..l into mercy, and mnde the p!.dg.
Of cheerful day. AMI nights without Il CREAM
Perhaps one of The oldest writer's
upon this subject, whose works
are cxtant, is the Spaniard Columclia,
who flourished about two tn ousanI
years ago. In the Introduction of his
learned work, he SAYS "that the art of
lusbandry is s" necessary for the
support "f hywHu t!y, uuI he com
'''N'''''" - '.''''' -. - .'N -, 'CSS .O1
iaHhir., ,na. Il. n.>,st men IN all
ages, have aScribed its original to
God as the Inventor and Or,,nlncr of
it: tnmL ,hc mos. civilized nations
have a.WaN erN2avored To promote
and improve i, aud have ncy"r G.I~J
to acknowledge As public ',oIut,cturs,
all who contributed to lis advance
mcnt.' The Greeks, the most polish
cd nation Of antiquity applied them.
selves very early to this study, and
seem to have been pruiicicnls in many
OF its secrets. lie said, the most
ancient of their poets, wns the first to
fling around Agriculture the charms Of
poetry, and thus tu instruct not only
the men othiS own times, but also
succeeding generations: for the Wis
dom OF his prccepts lived long in the
melody Of his verse, and was trans
miltcd down for the instruction of
after ages. Other young men amongst
them 80 improved the knowledge and
dlgnliicd the reputation OF this ancient
art, that Royalty was practsed in its
employment, and the Farmer King
became title of equal pride and
affection III those rcmotcr ages. The
patronage OF Government. the wisdom
OF their s.'ges and tho example OF
their princes were all combined To
extend and perfect it, aud while that
inqnisitive people borrowed knuwl.
edge OF all their neighbors, their wise
men aud their men OF enterprise tray.
eIleu into distant lands to study their
culture and bring home their improve
ments. Thus early they acquired
considerable skill in the culture of the
earth, and while they were first among
the naticn, in the art of war. they
also exccllcd them fur in the great
art Of peace.
By their intercourse and commnni
cation with Italy, the Greeks trans
United their knowledge Of Agriculture
into many parts Of that beautiful and
classic country. 1t is probable, how
ever, that Tor several centuries after
tho foundation Of Rome, very little
progress was made in the prosecution
oi this study nor did the Romans
seem to be much acquainted with
that regular system Of till.gc that was
practIsed with So much success in
Greece, and Asia, and other Eastern
countries but as they extended thcil
doninions, and became more acquain
ted with The pursuits, the comforts and
reiinemcnts Of neighboring nations
they also discovered the vast advan
tagos OF Agriculture, and its great
Importance to their military Republic;
SD that their Generals, their, Senators
and their gravest Philosophers used
all their eflorts to encourage and pro
| mote it, not only hY preccpl. hui hv