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

peculiar. Some of these | have taken the
trouble to set dawn; (which" however, as
Marc Antony says in the play, (which, par
don me, do not mean to read" | stand
here. then. as the unworthy representative Of
the University, in the presence Of the far
mers and planters Of the State, to discourse
to them about their own peculiar business,
and to offer them counsel in relation to mat
ters which they understand SO much better
than can pretend to do.
In navigating vessel across the ocean,
there are several particulars to be attended
to. Not only are the sails to be trimmed and
set in such manner as to catch the breeze,
the helm to be managed with skill, the course
by the compass 20 be noted and the log to be
thrown at intervals SO as to ascertain the pro-
gress the good ship is making, but from the
record Of observations so obtained, the posi-.
tion Of the mariner on any partcularday and
at any hour is to be calculated. so that ii may
be known whether he is drawing near to the
desired haven Or approaching dangerous
coast. propose 10 examine and ascertain,
as accurately as can, whereabouts we are in
the great ocean Of agricultural improvement
and knowledge; especially that part Of our
knowledge which is most intimately connec-
ted with the science Of chemistry. 'rodo this
Il will be necessary to look pretty far back,
as we'll as Immediately about Us. II any art
or science is warranted in tracing its history
to the very cradle Of the human race, sup.
pose this 10 be eminently true Of farming,
lnasmuch as We have il from the very best OF
all authorities, that the first father Of the hu-
man race was put into the garden Of Eden.
to dress it and to keep it. OF the agriculture
Of ghis garden do not propose to treat at
present. though may find occasion to speak
Of it hereaft- :. come dawn, then, at a
single stride Jm that remote era and un-
known locality on the earth's surface to the
most ancient seat Of civilization and The arts /;
10 Egypt and what is most worthy Of atten-
ton in the condition and modes ot culture in
that country.
II seldom rains in Egypt. which, 50 far as
the growth Of vegetables is concerned, is de-
pendent altogether upon the waters of the
Nile. The habitable and cultiyable part Of
that country, IL not confined absolutely to
the low grounds Of that stream, extends but
a very short distance beyond them. Once in
a year. somewhere between the middle and
end ri June, the river begins to swell from
the effect Of rains which have fallen, we do
not know how long before, in the interior of
the continent Of Africa. The quantity Of the
water flowing in It goes on increasing very
slowly for about two months, at the end Of
which time the channel ol the Nile is briln>
ful and it begins to come over the banks and
cover the low grounds. month later it is
at its highest point, and month later still.
or at the end Of October or beginning Of No
yember, has returned to lis channel again,
leaving the soil, after having been flooded for
two whole months. most thoroughly wet, and
impregnated also with whatever elements ol
fertility the river has brought from the regions
Of its remote fountain head. The ground now
receives what little breaking up il requires,
and the wheat which is by Far The most i'm.
portant crop, is sown. As tie atmosphere o
that country is always dry, at least as com.
pared with that o,erhanging the other por.
| tons Of The earth's surface, IAN effect pr0ba
bly, Of the deserts that border Egyptun eithei
handy the climate is favorable TO the healtl
and vigor Of this particular grain. 1t i yer,
little subject 10 blast, or rust, or millew, ol
10 any other Of those casualties, which some
times blight the hopes Of the farmer in 0ul
own country. The agriculture of Egypt wa
/ therefore mainly, il not altogether mechani
cal, the oyetflowing Of the Nile supplyin.
annually the elements Of perennial ierti
/ lity.
Palestine or the Holy Land, tile theatre 0
50 many miraculous events recorded in th,
Scriptures, was d very different sort Of cunn
try. With some plains If moderate extent
/ the greater part Of it surface j. rolling d
broken. Tile rock that undcrlies the soil i
limestone. Here, as ID Egypt, the kind d
culture 10 which the population are in a grea
measure. ilnpt altogether restricted, is deter
mined by causes beyond human control
| During fur months and half Of the year-
the three summer months, September, ant
the first half nf 0ctnber-rain very seldom
falls there. The rains commence In tie lat
ter part Of October and continue through th
winter and spring Il falluws that The rnta
ton nf crops must always have been imper
feet III that country. Our common lndiai
corn, even il known, could never have b7ci
cultivated to an advantage in Palestine
Wheat was, and Is. ~ in Egypt. the ptinci
| pal grain. The soil has always been. and i
now, favorable to il growth and productive
ness 50 that with hut m imperfect eulti,a
tipn, the returns are good. II dues mt ap
pear that the Hebrews were ever remarkabi,
for their skill 10 farming. That they mad
snme use 81 manure IN the time u our "a
yiuur, appears from the parable Of the bar
ren fig tree. which the dresser Of the sincyar,
requests 10 have spared. till lie shall have ha,
an opportunity 10 dig abuut Il and dung Il
after which. il il shall still continue unpro
ductise, he consents that il shall be cut down
The means u Improvement used by then
appear to have been mostly mechanical Iii
loosening Of the soil, and tie eradication o
the weeds, 80 as to hinder them from inlerTcI
ing with The growing crop.