Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-10-22

at least as compared with that overhanglng the QUIZ
er portions of the earth's surface ian eliect
the climate is fayorable to the hesish and ygor 81
this particular grain. It . very little saelecs
blast or rust or mildew or to- any other OF these
casualties, which sometimes blight the hopes OF tns
| farmer in our own country. The agriculture Oh
| Ervpt was therefore mainly, If not altogether me-
chsnical, the OVERLOOKING of the Nile supplying an
nually the elements of perennial fertility.
Palestine or the Holy Land the theatre of 30 many
miraculous events recorded in the Scriptures, was
very different sort of country. With some plains
is rolling or broken. The rock that uDderlies the
soil is limestone. Here, as in Egypt, the kind OF
culture to which the population are in great meas
ure, if not altogether restricted, is determined oy
causes beyond human control During four months
and a half of the year-the three summer months,
September, and the first half of October-rain very
seldom falls there. The rains commence in the lat
ter part of October and continue through the winter
and spring. 1t follows that the rotation OF crops
must always have been imperfect in that country:
Our common Indian corn, even it known, could
have been cultivated to an advantage in Pal
estine. Wheat was, and is, IS in Egypt the princ-
pal grain. The soil has always been, and is now,
favorable to it's growth and productiveness; so that
with but imperfect cultivation, the returns are
good. 1t does not appear that the Hebrews were
ever remarkable for their skill in farming That
they made some use of manure in the time of our
Saviour, appears from the parable Of the barren
fg.tree which the dresser Of the vineyard requests
to have spared till he shall have had an opportunity
to dig about it and dung it, after which, if it shall
still continue unproducve he consents that it shall
them appear to have been mostly mechanical; the
loosening of the soil, and the eradication Of the
weeds, so as to hinder them from interfering with
the growing crop.
When we pass from Palestine to the shores of
Greece and Italy, we come to regions whose
hair hQar
q nearer resemblance to those of our own land
They are not without forests: their climates are
somewhat warmer than ours the deposition OF
moisture under the forms of rain, hail or snow, in
stead of being confined to particular seasons occur
with us in succession-one or the other of theln
at moderate intervals, throughout the year. The
modes of culture therefore, that are appropriate to
these famous countries, may be expected to APP
proach more nearly to what obtains amongst our
selves 1t is possible, therefore, that by the study
of the ancient classes, some Of which touch incl
dentally upon the topic of agriculture and few as
Virgil, Cato, Varro and Columella, treat professedy
of it, we may be able to learn something in regard
to the best methods of managi ng our farms here in
North Carolina. In point of fact We can find in
them Gerry little that is beyond the science and skill
of an intelligent negro on any common plantation
The notices which the Greeks have left US Of their
modes of culture are few and meagre. There are
certain facts connected with the growth Of vegeta
bles which likely to force themselves upon the
attention of the most casual observer, and which
not neglected in the agriculture OF this or any
other ancient people.
l. The rankness of the grass and weeds just
about the spot where some manure has fallen, may
be expected to suggest to the most sloveny and
careless farmer the application of the same SUBJ
stance to the roots of wheat any other vegetable
he may have under cultivation; as pretty certain
means of rendering the returns larger of a better
quality, and on both accounts more valuable. He
brews Greeks and Romans, seem therefore alike to
have understood the effect of manures, though Hest
cd, one of the most ancient of the Greek poets,
whose works have come down to US, and who wrote
expressly of agriculture, does not mention them
ut all.
2. When pile of logs brush-heap is burnt
in field, the growth upon that spot will show that
some influence has been exerted, something has
been liberated from the wood and deposited there,
which is favorable to the increase of vegetables of
every kind, whether wild cultivated. This will
naturally lead to the application of ashes as
nure and of course with good results.
3. 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
direct running stream from its course, and lead it
along our cultivated fields The great principles of
agriculture therefore, that received, and the
processes that were adopted and carried into prac.
tice by the ancients, were few in number.
l. The soil has to be loosened and meowed BY
means OF the plough some other mechanical
agency, before the seed is committed to it and it is
desirable that this stirring of the ground be renew.
ed subsequently, whilst the crop is growing.
O. Other vegetables besides the one we are cult
waiting are to be rooted out the crop is to be kept
clean. Solomon represents himself as having "pass-
ed by the field of the sothful and by the vineyard
of the man void of understanding; and 10 it was
all grown over with thorns-and nettes had covered
the face thereof"
g. They understood the use of stable or farmyard
manure, though they do not appear to have valued
it as highly as do the moderns.
4. They esteemed ashes as a manure.
b. They were aware of the beneficial effects of
irrigation.
g. Finally, they were not wholly ignorant of what
is accomplished by judcious rotation of crops.
Their method of following differed from ours in one
particular; it was extended through longer peri
cd. The field that was to be sown in wheat in the
year 81, was ploughed for the first time in the way
of preparation in the fall of Sc.
z. We learn from Pliny that the use of mari was
understood and its application practiced in France
neglected in Italy.
From agriculture proper, one of the authors be-
fore me, Varro proceeds to the subject of stock
breeding, to which he devotes eleven chapters
l.. On the origin and dignity s. Concerning asses.
On sheep rams and lambs s. OF mules Of both kinds.
8. On goats Of both sexes and| 9. About dogs.
5. Concerning bulls and cows
All this is, of course, very learned and if any one
of the company now here shall be pleased to enter
upon the study Of the Latin and read Varro that he
may learn over again what he knows already, have
only to say that this is a free country.
We will leave the ancients then, pass by the dark
ages, and come down at once to comparatively mod
ern times Britain the country ofthc ancestors of most
us, was long, like the rest of Europe thny peopled
and badly cultivated. Even after the revival of
learning the business of farming not at higher
level in regard to either theory or practice than