The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1856-11-05

iHsltdu vi uclnb ConHHeu 10 particular sea
sons, occur, as with US. in succession--one
or the other Of them, at moderate intervals,
| throughout the year. Tie modes Of culture,
therefore, thatare appropriate to these famous
countries, may be expected to approach more
nearly to what obtains amongst ourselves.
II is possible therefore, that BY the study Of
the ancient classics, some oil which touch in
cidentally upon the topic Of agriculture, and
few, as Virgil, Cato, Varro and Columella,
treat professedly Of it, we may be able 10
learn something in regard to the best methods
Of managing our farms here in North Carroll
na. III point Of fact we can find III them Uery
tittie that is beyond the science and skill Of
an intelligent negro on any common planta-
ti0n.
The notices which the Greeks have left us
Of their modes Of culture are few and mea-
gre. There are certain facts connected with
the growth Of vegetables, which are likely to
force them selves upon the attention of the
most casual observer, and which were not
neglected in the agriculture Of this or any
other ancient people.
!. The rankncss Of the grass and weeds
just about the spot where some manure has
lallen, may be expected 10 suggest to the most
sloyenly and careless farmer the application
Of tie same substance to the roots Of wheat
or any other vegetable he may have under
cultivation, as a pretty certain means Of reR-
dering the returns larger ola better quality,
and on both accounts more valuable. lle-
brews, Greeks and Romans, seem therefore
alike to have understood the effect Of ma
nures, though Hesiod, one ofthe most ancient
4 jnTf fltn sch
down to US, and who wrote expressly of agri-
culture, does not mention them at all.
2. When pile Of logs or brssh.h heap is
burt in field, the growth upon that spot
will show that some influence has been exer,
ted. or something has been Liberated from the
wood aud deposited there, whirh is fayora-
Bile 10 the increase Of vegetables of every
kind, whether wild or cultivated. This will
naturally lead TO the application of ashes as
a manure, and Of course with good results.
). From the visible effects Of the summer
shower, we are naturally led to conjecture
that by supplying water in any other
way, we may accomplish the same ends
This will be true, especially il we can direct
a running stream from its course, and lead
/ it along our cultivated fields. The great
principles Of agriculture, therefore, that were
received, and the processes that were adopt
ed and carried INTO practice by the ancients,
were few in number.
| |. The soil has to be luosened and mellow
ed by means Of the plough or some other
mechanical agency, before the seed is COM
mitted.to it; and il is desirable that this
stirring Of the ground be renewed subsequent.
ly, whilst the crop is growing.
| .. Other vegetables besides the one we are
cultiyating are to be rooted out, or the crop
is to be kept clean. Solomon represents
himself as having" passed BY the field Of the
slothful, and by the vineyard of The man void
Of understanding and 10 il was all grown
over with thorns-and nettles had covered
the face thereof"
\ 3. They understood the use of stable or
. larmyard manure, though they do not appear
TO have valued il as highly as do the mod.
erns.
4. They esteemed ashes as manure.
). They we're aware Of the beneficial er.
fects Of irrigation.
&. Finally, they were not wholly ignorant ol
what is accomplished By judUtous rotation oI
crops. Their maihoa oi following differed
from ours in one particular: ii WAS extended
through longer period. Tie field lhal was Il
be sown IN wheat IN tie year s., was plough,
Ell Fir tie frs. time IN the way u preparation
III tile fali of sc.
Z. We learn from Plipy thai Tie use o
mari wa. understood, anti IT, application prac
uced IN France anil britain; whist, il not un
known. il was 4 lest neglected II lntiy.
From agriculture proper. me II tho author
! knf Warm fsRfs4arrta IN leo SUtfta3T
stock breeding, 10 Which he devoted clever
, ch,piers.
|. On the origin aul dignity ofs,oct.ltcclins. Of
.. On sheep, rams auI llfHhs.
3. On goats Of hath scNfs. aud kids.
!. 4. About The hing.
: 5. Concerning bull. and cows.
9. Concerning assest
. 4. OF horses aud macs.
3. OF mules q bdih kinls.
o About dogs.
10. About shepherds.
II. OF milk cheese, ard wool.
All this il, Of taaf-r, trty learned, and il an,
one of tie campau, nuw hete shall be pIeasft
10 enter upon the study ui ills Latin audtesd Vat
70, that lie NAV lHtfu over AGAIN wbilhe knuw,
. already, have 0rit 10 say that llns il lie,
country.
We will leave the ahrirnis llieu, pass by ii,
dark ages. and came tOWn 81 unee 10 tamrara
llsey modern times. llnlain. lhe country q
. Tie ancestors ri mn.t VI. was lnng, Ike te les
, of Europe, ihinly rrapth and hadtt cultivated
. Even after ile revival Of lrstni1g lie bgslne.
. 81 farming was MOI j, higher Ie,tI III regau
10 eilher theory or ptariire Than amongst VI,
aacicnl Greeks anil Romans. They li,sl cnn
; siderable Improvements wcte suggested by
. man il whose views aud plans tcf better me
tbol n culture, tfnh aud error were slranetl,
! mingled. Down 10 his ttnie nratly oil crop
/ had been sown broadcast, as Tie small gain
I are generally with Us.
. Ii 113i, or one hundred and twcniy-fs
years ago, Jelhro Tull Published his urause %