Demoine courier., 1854-09-14
A SHORT HISTORY OF AGRICULTURE.

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ASIORT HISTORY OF AGRICULTURE.
A writer Of much apparent research,
Biblical and Historical information, sign
ing himself s. Ii. c., who writes from
Damariscotia, to the Maine Farmer,
says. OF this subject:
"a shortbis,ory of agriculture may be
of some interest and instruction to your
readers. Though the items are detached.
,hey are the result of some research,
and are true but not complete. The
first thing We have in history relating to
farming is the account given of Cain,
that he was a 'iller of the ground. Abel
Offered the firsllings of his flock and
Noah began to be > husbandman, and
planted a vineyard. After the Jews
gained the promised land, they applied
themselves to agriculture, and thus fol.
lowed the example of their patriarchaI
ancestors, who were usually husband
men and shepherds, and whose chief
richness consisted in cattle and fruits
Abram 'was very rich in cattle, and Lot,
who accompanied him, had locks and
nerds, and tents and the land was no.
able to bear them. so there was a strife
between the herdsmen of Abram and
Lot, and SO they separated.
Lot had his choice and selected all the
plain of Jordan, because it was watered
everywhere, while Abram dwelled in the
land of Canaan. We learn that Jacob
presented to his brother Esac, FIVE
hundred and eighty cattle. 1t was their
great locks Of cattle which probably
made them in those times put such a
value upon wells. Wells were of ines
Unable value IN a country where It sci.
dom raincd and where there were but
few rivers and brooks. We may know
in what esteem agriculture was held in
those times, by reading the sacred
writings. Moses was a shepherd, Sham
gar was taken from the herd to be a
Judge in Israel, and Gideon from his
ihreshing floor, anc when Saul received
the news OF The danger to which the city
OF Ja5esh Gilead was exposed he was
coming out of a field after the herd, not
w~i,hstanding he was a king. David
was taken from feeding his ewes, Uzziah
digged many wells, for he had much
cattle, and he is said to have loved hus-
bandry; Elisha was called from the pillow
10 be q prophet, for Elijah found him
blowing with twelve yoke Of oxen, and
there cast his mantle upon him.
The Carthagenians carried the arr Of
Farming 10 a higher degree than any
other nation contemporary, and Mage, the
C~arihagenian general, wrote no less than
twen.y.eighs works on agricultural sub
;ecis, which were translated into Latin
by an especial decree ola Roman Senate.
Among the ancient Romans, the greatest
praise hat could be bestowed upon an
illusrious character, was to say that he
was an Industrious and judicious hus
bandman. Cato. who was a celebrated
statesman, orator. general, and was GOV
cred with many honors, We. derived his
greatest honor from having written q
voluminous work on agriculture. Phil.
osophers, statesmen and mobiles, in
Europe, have not disdained TO devote
their attention to this most importan,
topic. Some OF the most important
writings Of the immortal Washington,
were ON agricultural topics. Clay, Cal.
houn and Webster. not speaking Of any
others, have lels their mark on the agri-
cultural character Of our country.
Various means have been adopted in
all ages TO enrich The soil. The Jews
were well acquainted with use Of ma.
nures. and Though guano is a 'new
thing under the SUM- they knew the use
Of doves dung as a valuable manure, SO
much 90. that on the occasion OF The
famine in Samaria. ..the fourth part oil
a cab Of doves dung sold for FIVE pieces
of silver" I'll. Kings. vi, 25.) The