The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1860-06-27
Ancient and Modern Productiveness Of
Land.

One Of the most interesting and important
questions for the political economist TO settle
is how our skill in agriculture has improved
the productiveness Of the land in proportion
to the labor bestowed upon it. Cesar tells
us that. in his day, the Northern British
tribes never sowed their lands, but. like our
Indians, lived on the chase. They kept cows,
(the short horn Durham then, as nov, proba-
bly, being a laynrite.) IN the South ol Eng
land, however, lands were better cultivated
and even quite well MANFRED. The use of
mari was well known TO them and used with
great discrimination. They used the plough
and the fail. and stored their wheat 10 circu.
lar subterranean chambers. The remains Of
some of these have been discovered in this
century. The Romans no doubt did snme-
thing 10 1eyelope the agriculture OF Britain.
although they had first sought the British
Isle for is commerce 10 tin. and then sought
TO reduce IL by their armies; and soldiers
are seldom good farmers.
During the AngloSaxon period great at
tention was paid to agriculture. and the foun-
llation Of that taste laid WHICH has since
made the English the best farmers in the
world for improving their lands. In the
time of Eihelbert working man or slave
was sold for from eight 10 fourteen dollars.
horse FOR two-ihirds that amount, and a
COW for about dollar and hall, pig far
half dollar, and sheep for quarter.
After the Saxons had settled down great
care was taken Of the wood land. Arabic
land was enclosed with fences snd gates.
But three parts out Of four Of the lands seem
TO have heen used fnr pastursse, and most of
this is common. An acre Of land would
sonnet times be sold for the price Of four sheep.
Bot yet II has been calculated that. in A. ID.
700, twelve hundred acres would rent for
what is equivalent TO $500. and that the whole
produce Of such farm would be about ten
times that amount, or 5000; equal to ~
per acre.
In thnse days, while the farmers Jared well.
the serfs or labGrers were about as poorly
treated a. possible. One-fifth even 1t the
cattle is supposed 10 have died Of siarya-
ton during the winter. il severe. Still, all
sorts Of good eating known now were always
plentiialiy exhibited on The table at the manor
house. As commerce advanced. the price of
sheep rose Oh account Of the wool; 30 that.
on an average. they would bring dollar;
but ~ some season. Of The year twenty five
rents was considered a ample price. Ma
nuring was carried on. and ploUghing with
four oxen. The plough stirred up the ground
pretty deep; but no attempt seems tn have
been made TO tern the clean lurrow. upon
which all depends with Us. The spade aud
the pick-axe. the axe, The seythe and the
nail were in common use. The sickle was
used for reaping. aud the pileh.iork more
largely than with us. aud they had wagons
and carts.
After the time of the Conquest the land
was more highly mangred. breeding horses
and cattle became passion Of the Normans.
and they drained vast extents Of land. The
monks were. haweyrr. the most active and
most progressive farmers of this period. .
Thomas a Beckett himself, the Archbishop Of
Canterbury, aud the most proud and ambi.
iious ptelaie Of all England. would 20 and
take turn in the field at hay. making time
or reaping. They now ploughed their lands
twice in summer and once IL winter. 10 pre-.
pare them for wheat. Gardens, orchards
and vineyards were earafully planted, and
market gardens st Fulham aud other places
were established. Thus only by slow de.
gree. and long experiments has England
been brought up TO It's present state oi FER
tility. More has been done, however. within
the last iifty wears than in any five hundred
previously. What tie next fifty years will
bring who shall tell :