, 1858-07-23
AgficVIiufe.


The following instructive article, from q
recent number of the GeRssee Farmer, can.
not but be interesting to our readers, and we
therefore copy it entire:
Nearly all the recent investigations under
taken for the purpose Of developing the
principles of Agriculture have demonstrated
the important fact that those practices which
are founded on the careful observations of
practical farmers are eminently judicious.
This fact, while It has damped somewhat the
ardor Of those who anticipated q revolution
inagriculture from the introduction of special
manures founded on the analyses Of plants
and soils, has stimulated more cautious in
Yuirers to study the opinions of practical
men, not only Of the present, but Of the
past. Hence it is that the agriculture Of the
anciert Romans is now receiving so much
attention from some of the best British
agricultural writers. FRI m the similarity
of our climate, this subject is even more
worthy the attention of the farmers Of this
country than of those Of England. We
have, in the old books on Roman agriculture,
vast storehouso Of observed facts, which,
when examined by thelightO Of moeern science,
not only suggests many subjects Of great inter
est to the student Of agricultural phenomena,
but may enable us to deduce principles which
will lead to TN Improvement in our present
practices.
Tho most complete treatise OH Roman
agriculture was written by Columella, who
Aourished AID. AZ. 1t consists Of thirteen
books, one Of which is in verse. This
author gives practical directions for draining
tho land, both by open and covered drains.
The covered drains, he says, should be three
feet deep, half filed with small stones or
clean gravel, the earth that was dug out
being thrown over them. Ifneither stones
NOR gravel can be obtained, he advises that
twigs should be twisted like rope, and
formed 10 the exact thl,kness of the bottom
of the drain, and then that cypress or pine
leaves should be pressed down upon it, TAX
ing care that at both ends Of the drain two
stones should be placed upright like pillars,
having another laid over their top, to supper!
the bank, and give free ingress and egress to
the water.
PLowING-The Roman agricultural writers
invariably represent plowing as the most i'm
portant operation of agriculture. Cato OBJ
serves that il asked what is the first point in
good husbandry, he should answer good
plowing; what the second-plowing Of any
kind; what the third-manuring thus in
dicating the subordinate place he would assign
to tho latter. This was at an carly period
Of Roman history, when the land retained,
probably, much Of its original fertility. In
the time of Columella, manuring was consid-
cred more essential but even this writer
evidently considered blowing one of the
most important operations on the farm, and
his directions must be admitted to be very
practical and judicions. The land was never
TO be plowed when wet in order completely
to pulverize the soil, cross-plowing was to
be resorted to; the burrows were to be mar
row and close, SO that all roots and weeds
might be destroyed; and the surface left so
equal that few traces Of the plow could be
perceived. Particular care was to be taken
by the plowman, not to make an unequal
,furrow-One varying in breadth and depth !;
and when the ridges were thrown up, they
A.. l. IL c.