Des Arc citizen., 1860-07-25
Ancient and Modern Productiveness ol
 Land,

Ancient and modern Pr0ductlvenesS or
 Land. | One of the most interesting and impor- tant 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 North ern 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 a favorite. In the South of England. however, lands were better cultivated and even quite well manured The use of mari was we'll known to them and used with great dis criminaton. They used the plough and the fail, and stored their wheat in.Grcular subterranean chambers. The remains of some of these have been discovered in this century. The Romans no doubt did some- thing to develop the agriculture of Britain, although they had first sought the British Isle for it's 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 man or slave was sold for from eight to fourteen dollars, a horse for two.thirds that amount, and cow for about dollar and.a-half, q ! pig for half dollar, and sheep for quarter.
 After the Suxons had settled down great care was taken of wood land Arabe 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 in common. An acre of land would sometimes be sold for the price of four sheep. But yet it has been calculated that, A. D. 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 $5 ,O00 equal to $4 per acre. In those days, while the farmers farsd we'll, the serfs or laborers were about as poorly treated as slaves. One-fiflh even of the cattle are supposed to have died of starvation during the winter, if severs.--- Still, all sorts of good eating known now were always plentifully exhibited on the table at the manor-house. As commerce advanced. the price of sheep rose on ac- count of the wool; so that, on an average, they would bring dollar; but at some seasons of the year twenty-five cents was considered an ample price. Maturing was carried on, and ploughing with four oxen. The plough stirred up the ground pretty deep; but no attempt seems 10 have been made to turn the clean furrow, upon which all depends with us. The spade, and the pick-axe, the axe, the scythe and fail were in common use. The sickle was used for reaping, and the pitch-fork more largely than with us, and they had wag- ons and carts. a After the time of the Conquest the land was more highly manursd, breeding horses and cattle became passion of the Nor mans, and tbey drained vast extents of land. The Monks were, however, the most active and most progressive farmers of this period. Thomas A. Beckett him. self, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the most proud and ambitious prelalc of all England, would go and take turn in the field at hay-making time of reaping. 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 mar ket gardens at Putnam and other places were established Thus only by slow de- grees and long experiments has England been brought up to it's present state of fer tlity. 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 9- Ledger. | TIE SOUTHERN NEGROES CArEcHIsM. The Synod of Mississippi has published 1" catechism for the religious instruction of the solored people, in which the fol- lowing questions and answers occur: Q.--Are not the servants bound to obey I their masters?
 l A.-Yes-the Bible exhorts servants 10 be obedient to your masters, and to please them in all things. s
 Q.-Jf master be unreasonable, may the slave disobey2
 | A.-No; the Bible says, "Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also the forward.'
 Q.-What does the Bible say to servants on the subject?
 A.-They are to obey, not with eye ser vice as men-pleasers, but as the servants of Christ.
 | Q.-If servants suffer unjustly, what are they to doz B
 A.-They must bear it patiently. Fought servants to rebel agains, the authority of their masters?
 A.-No; it is a sin against God and man.
 l Q.-How do we know this | A.-The Bible tells us that the Apos tle Paul found servant who had run away from his master, and sent him home. Q-Why did not Paul conceal him, that he might be freea
 A Dooo,sa h., ,,onld not make reil-