The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1868-12-05
AGRICULTURAL.

advancement in agriculture the produc-
tion of wheat, barley, spelt, and mil
let; then rye and oats, with many new
varieties; next, fruit and wine; still
later, the beautiful descriptions of gar
dens from Grecian and Roman history
bring forth the treasures of horticul-
! turc.
The Greeks excellel in sweetmeats
an1 fruits in that remote age of a.ricul
turc. Painting, sculpture, music, and
drawing were added to the gayety at
Eleusis in honor of agriculture The
/ beautiful vases, urns, &c, which ad1rn
the museums of Europe, show superiori-
| ty of art and refinement. Although
minute perhaps to us in our advanced
age, it brings forth Improvement and
steady progress to perfection in civiliza-
tion.
Itlay then came forward under the
progress of agriculture from the Greeks
Horticulture advanced by the frequent
| intercourse with Asia and Africa until
tie inva ion of barbarism, when the an
cestors became wandering shepherds and
civilization and agriculture disappeared.
wreck,ng the whole Roman empire for
two hundred years. The culture of cere-
ais was resumed and even enforced again,
and the barbsrians were brought under
the rule of Christianity, spreading and
progressing through Germany, Spain and
France, until the time Of the discovery of
America.
AS Europe is indebted to Asia and
Africa, SO is America to Europe for
many of it's original productions. 50 va
rious that my pen cannot do them JUS
tice.
Maize or Indian corn is the most i'm
portant farinaceous plant peculiar to our
soil. We are left in darkness as to
where our Creator first deposited the val
uable grain. Whether Asia can boast of
its original production, or Africa had
corn fields in Joseph's sovereign authori
ty, there is no positive record. Europe
ans found it under cultivation In North
"A
covery, but as Giccian or Roman history
do not include maize in thei~ minute des-
criptions. we conclude that it is our plant
exclusively.
Miilct and cocoa are indigenous; so
are the thlee grains, wheat, barley and
oats.
Our native trees are mostly of ting nut
bearing kind-chestnut, black walnut,
hickory. and oak included. Black berries,
raspberries. rawberries and whnrtlebcr-
RES are probably. aud must be admitted,
our native production, and we see them
growing and bringing forth fruit in their
wild state in abundance.
Apples. pears, peaches, oranges and
lemons are supposed to be foreign
fruits.
Many delicious and fine fruits are from
tropical plants, more exclusively lavished
Oh South America. North America car.
/ hot compare with Europe with its origin
ali,yeof fruit.
Potatoes are just as difficult to trace
maize. 1t is supposed that the aqni
na, which grows wild on the southern
coast of Chilli. is our original plant. lis
foliage aud blossoms are found tn be sim
liar; the tnber, though tasteless and
watery, is said to have its nutritive quail
tiles. The sweet potatoe and artichoke
are OF the same family, and are classcd
among plants that are useful and indispen-
| sable to our tables.
HENS A hen, if she is allowed her
| liberty, will eat one bushel of corn year.
Good corn and clean water are the best
feed, with scraps Of meat, etc, in the
| winter. We have hen that paid more
than SIG profit last year she raised two
broods of chickens (20). I was offered
one dollar each for them IN December.
Any hee. if allow ed to bring up brood
of chickens, will pay profit Of from S3
to SO year.-Ee.
CANADA TnIsrLEs. The Illinois
Legislature has passed law providing
that any person bringing into the State
seed Of the Canada thistle, in the pack
ing Of goods, grain, or grass seeds, or
| otherwise, aud permitting the same to be
disseminated aud vegeta'c, shalLbe liable
to a fine of s4O0; aud any person allow
ing this thistle to mature and disseminate
,ts cna.l nnn,, his l.,,,f1s Shall hf, Suiiect