Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1859-01-21
Milton in describing the Paradise of Ad-
Il H.

am and Eve
'Shade above shade,
A woody theatre of stateiest view"
A scene of cultivated loveliness now,
but once it bore different aspect Ma
ture here had combined the wild with
the beautiful in such a manner as seem
ingly TO oppose insurmountable obstacles
to the successful pursuits of husbandry.
The steep activities of the mountains,
the naked rocks which projected from
their sides, and the many ravines worn
by the irregular torrents descending from
the heights above, made the valley of
the Arno ft abode for lawless robber
; chief, rather than the home of the peace
full cultivator of the soil. Nature here,
at least, seemed safe from the intrusions
of agricultural industry. But art here
achieved one of her noblest triumphs-
changing these wild and desolate fea-
lures into scene Of loneliness, indeed !;
but a loneliness not confined to the beauti-
full, but also improved to the use and
benefit of man. The ravines have dis
appeared, the huge rocks have been CO.
vered with deep and fruitful soil, the
steep activities of the mountains have
been cut into series Of terraces, and
the wild torrents, confined to rocky chan
nels, have been compelled to spread over
all their invigorating influences. Here,
the terrace system is established On a
gigantic scale, ana irrigation by means
of sluices and aqueducts, which, even
in the present age, are the admiration OF
engineers. Travellers in Italy will d.
rect your attention to the spots where
stood the villas of Sallust, of Cicero, and
of Macanas, the patron of Horace, sur
rounded by their spacious gardens, OF
rather ornamental farms but more than
these, the valley of the Arno shows that
some Of tho greatest works Of Roman
genius were the tributes which Imperial
Power was willing to pay to the pre-
eminent usefulness of agriculture.
But, notwithstanding the magniicencc
of these and other similar works in aid Of
practical farming, neither of the princi-
pies | have mentioned originated with
!, , the Romans. Irrigation, as we have
seen, began in Egypt and Persia, when
Italy was unknown to history, and the ar
tifcial terrace system was praeticed by
, the Israelites in, Palestine, before Rome
was founded, and in perhaps a much
earlier period by the Chinese.
With TIE downfall of the Roman En-
pire, ana for a period of about five hun
bred years, Europe was in no condition
to make advancement in this important
occupation of mankind Peace is the
patron of Agriculture The civil com
motions the violent overthrow and cs-
adjustment of kingdoms, consequent
upon the excursions Of nations of bar
barians, exclusively devoted to war and
the chase, were calculated to stay the
march of improvement and cousign the
past attainmcnts to forgetfulncss. But,
while in Europe, Agriculture was going
backward rather than forward, Asia, and
particularly China, presented rare ex-
ample Of farming, conducted on those
economical principles of compensation
which are now deemed Of the most es-
sential Importance. No nation can com
pete with the Chinese in the estimation
given 10 the arts that minister TO human
subsistence For unknown centuries
she has had her agricultural festivals,
and annually the strange spectacle has
been seen Of the Celestial King, the
brother Of the sun and the moon, in the
presence Of his subjects, guiding the
plough. For ages she has had her arti-
fetal terraces and her artificial irrigation
extending to every part Of her vast EN-
pire aud no people ever attained to such
scrupulous and persistent industry in the
collection Of every material which can
repair the wastes of vegetable growth
But, returning to Europe, we find the
revival Of learning giving a fresh impc-
tus to the arts Of Agriculture. Ger
many took the lead, aud to her we are
indebted for the introduction Of artificial
grasses, especially clover. England fol-
lowed closely after, and through the for
nation Of her Agricultural Societies and
the patronage Of her monarchs and no
bility, aided by the discoveries in vege-
table anatomy and chemistry. the tillagc
Of the soil is rapidly assuming its proper
position as science, to be conducted on
scientific principles. Nor have our Uni
ted States failed to make important con-
tributions to its advancing prosperity.
They have given TO it the best labor
saving machinery yet invented, and, if
| mistake not, they were the first to sue
cessfully apply guano and artificial com
pounds to the permanent renovation Of
worn-out soils.
i But all art is progressive, and every
days experience will add TO the achieve
ments of the past We have not yet
reached the golden age Of Agricultural
Science, nor the era Of perfection in ag
ricultural implements, and that time may
not be far distant when the farmer shall
look back upon the systems and the
things Of to-day, with tho same foelin "a
we now contemplate the rough, unskillful
husbandry Of the eighteenth century -
Both nature and art have resources yet
to be developed, aud our mother Earth
will be found willing to increase tcn-fold
the nourishment needed for her children.
V.
We return from this depression to the
principles which control the industrial
action Of mankind. AS necessity is the
first, so utility is the second. The wants
Of nature being supplied, desired com
fort calls for the introduction of things
that are useful, and thus the inventive
genius Of uan was directed 10 those oc-
equations which now contribute 70 much