The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-02-25


words than truth; for they throw some
occult quality in the way, which leaves
rs as we were before; and at the best tell
us that he, who designs beinga husband
man. must first know the nature OF the
soil"
at is not contrary to my opinion, " said
Socrates, "that one ought to know the
quality of the soil: for those who do not
know what the ground will bring forth,
how can they appoint either trees, plants,
or seeds for IL, which are natural tonlts
intent or proper for itT'
Dear Socrates" said Ischomachus,
"this is easily discovered, by observing
the grounds of other people, where you
may see the diversities of plants growing
on them, and by little observance that
way, you will learn what they will pro-
duce, and what are contrary to their ma
ture; and when q man has once made his
due observation of this he will see that
it will be improbable to resist nature or
the will of Providence. For when man
plants or sows those things which he ac.
counts necessary for his use, and the soil
does not delight in the nourishment or
production of them, or has not VIII to
bring them forth, his expense and trou.
BILE is to no purpose. But II ne cannot
discover the nature of the grounds, next
,out him, which either through idleness
or any other cause, have been misman-
aged or neglected, let him consult other
lands remoter from him; and if even they
happen not to be cultivated, he may
learn by the weeds that grow upon them
what they will produce; for those plants
which grow wild show best the inclina-
ton and disposition of the soil, so that
husbandmen may even learn their busi-
ness by observing what the ground will
produce of itself"
"Then," replied Socrates, II perceive
that man need not abstain from hus-
bandry purely because he does not know
to describe the nature of the soil; for
remember, | have seen fishermen who
have employed themselves continually
upon the sea, without inquiring what the
water is or its principles, but pass over it,
and when they find anything to their
advantage they take it, and leave the
rest. The same, suppose, is the design
of the husbandman; when they look
upon soils, it is to observe what they
bring forth that is valuable, and what
they will not"
"1n what part of husbandry would you
have me begin ?" said Ischomachus,
"dear Socrates, for you talk like an adept
in the science. Your reasoning is good,
and must proceed from understanding.
"All that | mean by reasoning with
| ~ pn,,liol GAntnfnc tic m knnW hnU
| shall till the ground, so as to reap the
most profitable crops of corn, or other
fruits from it; for it is becoming a phi
losopher to inquire into those things
which are pleasant and profitable"
"I suppose" said Ischomachus, "you
already understand that the stirring or
breaking of the ground, which one may
call following, is of great advantage"
"This," answered Socrates, 81 believe"
"And suppose we were to fallow or
plow the ground in winter?" said Ischo-
machus.
"That | don't approve of" said So
crates, "for the earth is then too wet in
my opinion"
'And what do you think if we were
to turn it up in the esummer ?" said Ischo.
machus.
"Then doubt" said Socrates, at would
be too dry and hard for the plow"
"Then let us plow," said Ischomachus,
"in the spring" .
II thi k you are much in the right"
said Socrates, "for then the ground is
most free and ready to open itself to the
plow, and is also most ready to distribute
its virtue"
at is not only So" answered Ischo-
machus, "but then whatever weeds are
upon the ground, being turned into the
earth enrich the soil as much as dung.
And again, these plants are not grown
to such point of maturity or perfection
| that their seeds are rlpe and therefore
cannot fill the ground with weeds; and
besides, / suppose you know that both
the following and the tilling of ground is
always the better as the ground has the
fewer weeds in it; for, besides the hind
rance the weeds may give to corn or
other profitable herbs, they prevent the
ground from receiving the benefit of the
sun and free air."
This agree to-" said Socrates.
"Then," replied Ischomachus, "do you
not think that often stirring the ground
in summer will be the best way for it to
enrich itself by the air and sun, as well
as to destroy the weeds?"
Il am very sensible" said Socrates,
"that weeds will wither, and dry quickly
in the summer; and the ground can never
receive more benefit from the sun, than
| if it is stirred with the plow, or fallOwed
in the heat of summer; and if man dig
his ground in summer, he will have the
same advantage in destroying of weeds,
which will then soon die; or else, by
turning them in before they seed, they
will enrich the ground; and by the turn
ing up of the earth, at that season, the
sourness and rawness of that, which is
turned up, will be corrected by the sun"
$50 I find," said Ischomach s, "that
we are both of one opinion concerning
the stirring and following ofthe ground" !"
at is true" said Socrates, "but, to pro-
ceed to sowing; doyou allow that the old
opinion, which is agreed to and followed
by the present operators in husbandr. :,
concerning the season of putting the
seed into the ground, is agreeable to rea-
son, or are you of another opinion ?"
To this Ischomachus replied: when
summer is once past and September is
upon us, all men then wait the pleasure
of the gods to send rain to moisten the
ground and prepare it for the seed; and,
as soon as the rain falls, then every one
employs himself in sowing, as the gods
seem to direct"
"Then," said Socrates, ut seems that all
men in the world have determined, by
one assent, that it is not convenient to
SOW when the ground is dry; and those
who act against this rule of nature are
sufferers by it."
eve agree likewise in this" said
Ischomachus.
"Then," Socrates replied, II perceive
that man ind consent to the order of
nature, which is the will of the gods; as
for example, every one thinks it conve-
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