The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1861-04-03

S"'"'" " oStteT conception OF Tie minute
attention, which they paid to practical
agriculture during this period Of their
history, than by knowing few Of their
common maxims OH the subject, we will
meniion the following
list. "lle ia "a thrifless farmer that buys
anything which bis own farm can produce
"a, lie is no husbandman, who does
any work in the day time tha, can be
done IN the nght, except in stormy wea
ther.
Sd. lie is worst of all who in clear
sky works within doors, rather than in
the field"
Possessed Of a soil naturally product
i've, and climate the most delightful on
earth, with these maxims regulating their
notions OF economy. nothing prev ented
the Roman people, under prudent h Us,
bandry of their resources, from becoming,
wba. IN fact, they were, at once the most
opulent aud powerful nation on earth
As long as the people continued to prac'
'lce economy, and to cultivate the soil,
the nation pruspered. Peace and plenty
relgned throughout the empire tie arts
and sciences llourished, ard commerce
with her enrichuing stores, greatly swell
ed the growing resources of the States.
1t was tot until the nation exchanged
peace Tor wdr, aud prrded herself more IN
the use Of the SWord than the use OF the
pIow, that Ter mighty resources began
TO Tail her. Macceuas seeing the ruin
which Threatened the Empire from this
cause, induced Virgil to pen his Geo, gics.
lhe great lmport"r q, with which he must
have regarded toe subject OF agriculture,
Is seen IN the .rent length Of time he
was occupied in writing this most ,a.ua
ble treaties. He was seven years in wri.
ting this part OF his works. lie address
es himself TO the subject pracrlcaIy, aud
though much hat he SAYS, Is ApulcaH;y
only 10 the climate of ltaly and the pc
cuiiar condition OF his own couE,rvnen.
yet, among the many rules tha, he luy,
down for the improvement of hu,baudry.
and the capitai advice which lie gives The
farmer on various subjects connected with
tiilsge, may be found many valuable hints
TO the agrcuIturist Of every county,
Dividing his subject. generally, into four
parts, he devotes whole book 10 each.
lhe hrst treats of the various soils ami
tho proper method Of managing each
the second treats Of fruit trees, and par
tIcu!arly the vine, with tue best method
OF planting the one anl training the 9th
er. lhe third treats Of the several kinds
OF grasses, and the proper method of rails
ing horses, cattle, sheep and goats. The
fourth treats Of the proper managomen,
of bees. The beautiful and the instructive
style with which Virgil has treated tho
various subjects which compose the sub
stance OF his admirable treaties. has mad.
it long outlive. he times and pcople for
whom il was written.
Could the poorhorse, the OK and the
ass speak,-no,withs.anding they have
not The gilt Of reason to comprehend-
the injustice Of their injuries, could these
poor creatures only speak in favor Of the
third book OF Georges, which vndcaies
Their claims upon man, aud incuIcates
kindness and attention to them, the,
suIeIy would, in view Of the ertraD0guHt
cruelty which they are treated, Gloss their
remarks with .he expiring wish % thu
famous father Paul to his country, Esto
perp"tua. The early Greeks as well as
the Romans, paid considerable attention
10 agriculture. Ii they were inferior, a4
An agriculture! people. to the Rom tns, it
was owing TO Ga,uTal causes, rather than
TO neglect Of the soil. They early
manifested their interest in agriculture,
by establishing the Eewsinian Mysteries
III favor Of Ceres. These mysteries they
con'nued 10 celebrate, annually, for eigh.
teen hundred years, when they we're
abolished by Theodosius the Great
Hesiod, as early as the time of Homer.
wrote poem on agriculture styled his
"Dsys apd Works.
Need mention also. in this connec
ton, the Egyptians, from whom the !
Greeks derived their first notions of agri !
culture. Who has not read OF the ferlili |
ty Of the Nie-the fruitfulness Of ber
valleys, which made Egypt groiRery |
for the countries round slou, her
Whose Imagination is not taxed to |
form an idea Of the wonderful fruil.ulues,
OF this country. during the sel EN- years Of
plenty, as be reads Of Joseph gathering |
corn for the seven years Of famine whicl, |
afterwards prevailed, and OF the sons OF |
Jacob going down from the land oil |
Csaaan, to the land of Egyp, for corn
How touching aud how eloquent must
the old man Jacob have been, wbeu
hearing ,ha. there wss corn in Egypt, he |
"said unto his sons Why do We look |
one upon another Behold | have
heard that there is corn in Egypt; get
you down tbi,her, and buy for Us from
thence that we may live and not die"
Joseph is said 10 have gathered "corn as
the sand Of the sea, very much, until lie
left numbering. because it was without
Pharaob spsakes in his dream,
Of "seven ears IN one stock full and good"
The attention which we have, thus
hurnedly shown The Egyptians. Ihe early
Greeks, and the Romans 10 have given
TO the subject of agriculture. is sufficient
to establish the TACT, that they were early
Of its importance. The evils |
A z n - .