The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-06-19
ANCIENT AND MODERN PRODUC-
TIVENESS OF LAND.

One of the most interesting and important ques-
tons for the political economist to settle Is now
our skill in agriculture has improved the product
iveness of the land in proportion to the labor
bestowed upon it. Caesar 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
now probably being favorite.) In the South OF
England, however, lands were better cultivated
and even quite well MANFRED The use of mari
was well known TO them and used with great dis
elimination They used the plough and the fail,
and stored their wheat in circular subterranean
chambers. The remains of some of these have
been discovered in this century. The Romans no
doubt did something to develope the agriculture
of Britain, although they had first sought the
British Isle for its commerce in tin, and then
sought to reduce it by their armies; and soldiers
are seldom good farmers.
During the Anglo-Saxon period great attention
was paid TO agriculture and the foundation OF that
taste laid which has since made the English the
best farmers in the world for improving their
lands In the time of Ethelbert working
or slave sold for from eight to fourteen dollars
horse for twO-thirds that amount, and COW for
about dollar and-a-half, a pig for half dollar,
and a sheep for quarter"
After the Saxons had settled down great care
was taken of the wood land. Arabic land was
enclosed with fences and gates. But three parts
out of four of the lands seem to have been used
for pasturage, and most Of this is common An
of land would sometimes lie sold for the price
of four sheep But yet it has been calculated that,
in \. 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 $4,000; equal TO 81 per
In those days while the farmers Jared well, the
serfs or laborers were about as poorly treated as
possible. One-ffth even of the cattle is supposed
to have died Of starvation during the winter if
severe. Still, all sorts of good eating known
were always pentifuly exhibited OH the table at
the manor-hOuse. As commerce advanced, the
price of sheep account of the WOOL SO that,
Oh an average, they would bring dollar but at
some seasons of the year twenty-five cents was
considered an ample price. Manurng was car
rled on, and ploughing with four oxen. The
plough stirred up the ground pretty deep; but no
attempt seems to have been made to turn the clean
furrow, upon which all depends with The
spade and the pick-axe, the axe, the scythe and
the fail were in common The sickle used
for reaping, and the pitch fork more largely than
with us, and they had wagons and carts
After the time Of the Conquest the land Was
more highly manurc,i, breeding horses and cattle
became passion Of the Normans and they drained
vast extents of land The monks were, however,
the most active and most progressive farmers of
this period. Thomas A Beckett himself, the Arch
bishop OF Canterbury and the most proud and
ambitious prelate of all England, would 20 and
take turn in the field at hay making time of reap
ing. They now ploughed their lands twice in
summer and once in winter to prepare them for
wheat Gardens, orchards and vineyards were
carefully planted, and market gardens at Fulham
and other places established. Thus only by |
slow degrees and ling experiments has England
been brought up to its present state of fertility
More has been done, however, within the last fifty
years than in any five hundred previously What
the next fifty years will bring who shall tell?