Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-12-24
History Of Agriculture.

Mankind were at frat in state Of nature,
eating only the spontaneous growth Of the
earth. The change from this state to the
pastoral, or to any higher mode Of living,
must have been gradual, occupying, perhaps,
even ages. We have somewhere seen it
stated that "the race were doomed to tot, :"
but we do not believe it, in any such sense
as this expression implies. To speak Of the
race as doomed to happiness would be a
solecism. Men are sometimes doomed TO
misery, and if the expression read, "the race
are doomed to indoleRce," we could UNDER
stand what curse had been inflicted upon
them. But toll is not only blessing, but a
pleasure to any average man or woman who
has claim to respect in human society. La
Dor is not only necessity, but al honor to
him who labors mot in vain"
But no doubt the necessity of labor sharp.
ened the power of invention in those early
days. But the race multiplied, and, as they
wandered about from place to place, it was
discovered that the countries watersd by the
Euphrates, the Tigris and tho Nile were the
most productive, and hence the dwellsrs in
those valleys engaged in tilling the soil and
the jewellers in the billy countries of Syria
and the lands cast Of the Mediterranean,
which were better adapted to grazing, be.
came the owners of Aocks and cattle. The
wealth Of the early jewish patriarchs con.
sisted chiefly in cattle and fruits. Chaldea
and Egypt, from the earliest times, were
lands noted for corn.
Our readers have all read of the overflow
ing of the Nile, and many are familiar with
the fertility Of that valley. Perhaps, how.
ever, all do not know the extent Of that
valley, at what season it was overhowed, nor
how it was cultivated. This interval was a
strip Of country from seven to eight miles 10
width, gradually slOping down to the river
and extending some four or Eve hundred
miles Ii was overlooked from about the
first Of August to the last Of October. When
the water subsIded, it left the richest posi-.
BILE tOp-dressing Of slime and mud. Now il
the time for the cultivator. He has only
two things to do, viz. to SOW his seed, and
to turn on q herd of swine to tread it in
He can then give his attention to some other
industry until the harvest time arrives. This
fact leads US to infer that the processes en-.
plOyed in agriculture were very simple al
first, being confined merely to preparing the
ground for the seed, sowing and harvesting
The climate, and the natural productiveness
Of the soil, rendered it unnecessary to stimu,
late by the use Of mauures. Indeed, the
overflow Of the fruitful river MANFRED the
soil 10 the most effectual way.
Egypt, Chaldea and China first extended
the limits of agricultural practice in ancient
times. Animal power is supposed first to
have been applied to agriculture in these
countries. As evidence Of this, we refer q
the inscriptions on the ancient tombs Of
Egypt. Among them is the representation
OF an implement resembling a pick, which
was used as plOw Greece received ii
Knowledge of agriculture from Egypt, apd
we find it in tOlerably aOurishing OOndi
ton 1000 years before Christ. The pillow
of that day HesiOd describes as consisting o
a beam, share and handles; not As perfect
| We presume, as even the famous DAnis