Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1884-03-18
Tor the OKfori Democrat
PROGRESS OF FARMING.

prNnR1Er. Mass, fch. 90. 50
In TIE march % civilization. people
turned their aiieation - raising domestic
animals. ani became q race % shepherds,
roaming over the vast territory of Asia
with their numerous herds ani hocks, -
6nd herhsgc f,r their susteuance. Ia the
course Of time. man greatly multlplicd. AMI
q. he wandered about from place 10 place,
BE- found me att. waierci by the Eapara'
tss aui Nile were exceedingly Pfoiaetsci
therefore abauioniog a nomtilc me- en-
gagged ln ullng the soil. while thc inhab-
liant. 10 Syria AMI jewellers In countries
cast ~ The Mcllicrrancsn conunuei TIE
owner. OF fleks ani cattle. almost The
sole riches of thc jewish palfiafchs The
progress from state 81 nature a. a ptsto-
raj aui hi Cher mole % lifs must have been
gradual the work % agcs fof man a.
that period 81 she world was moch lcss en-
foWri win Inventive talent than IN later
times Man sas doomed 81 uil the earth,
hrncc Necessity f1sierci ihc power ~ in'
veutl.n. ~ which the Egyptian, con.
structei some rude tools and spp'lci AMI
mai power f'r the purpose ~ agriculture.
Tsyrt was the granary ofthe world. Tho
annual oveff, ~ log Of ihs Nle caused such
fertility. That Improvement To- agriculture
was neglected TIE labor of bat rev wts
was relaIrsi o. furnish floi. therefore a
large portion OF ~ people were compelled
ty tyranis 81 hulli useless works NJ ari,
such al. the Lshyr.uth. Sphynxes. ohsilsss
lri Pyramids. which have withsiooi the
assaults % time and The ruihlCss hani Of
ihe barbarian ior nearly fsp years, ani
now r,maln the wonder. 20 an asionishsf
world The Egyptian plough cosslsiei Of
a crooked piece of wool. % which Wa n
taehei ropes fastened b bar acoss The
oreu's horns The knowledge " arrlcui-
tarc Wa carried Into Greece, AMI la the
height o. her glory attained 4 considerable
degree ~ perfection IN the application Of
Fertilizers o The soil Rome greatly I'm.
proved ihe system adopted BY Egypt, both
by he use u better implements. AMI =
more thorough method Of ulllns The sol.
Agriculture. by 10 importance o. The hu.
man family. became scarce Of pride %
every Roman citizen engaged In ,he occu'
patton. The nrsi citizens regarded u one
Of ne highest houors 70 bear The name Of
husbardman Jlnclnuaius, one Of Rome's
greatest generals, worked on his farm, ani
A. bis country's call len his plow and took
commsnd other army orators and states
men were highly Interested Ia the science.
many volumes were written and circulated
by pablic authority. comprising a more
comprehensive agricultural literature than
that of any other ancient people Rome
extended her cooquests; slaves were
doomed with The plebeians 20 sili the SOIL
and Ia the process % time, as,lgma was
attached 10 The occupation, which has not
been entirely obll,cra,ei 10 the long period
ofas0ysars.
with the modern appliances, farming i
made les burdensome and more profitable
than la former times. The mower, reaPer,
wheel rake, ihreshlng maehlng, horse hoe,
pulycrlfer plows and other implements OF
modern inventions. enable the farmer 10
accomplish many times The amount OF Ia
Dor that could be- performed In the ordlnA-
~ way. Besides these advantages, the
method Of agriculture taught scientifically
has Increased the fertility 81 the soil and
greatly augmented the products 30 sustain
animal ilfc. The recent improvements 10
the breeds Of domestic animals, and the
ar, Of transporting beef 70 foreign markets
make this branch Of agriculture Of the
highest importance. slways snording a
better Income than almost any other
better variety Of dairy cows are found In
every farmyard, and oxen are raised near
ly twice A. large A. the old native breed.
Commercial fertilizers are now common 10
the market, aud freely bought oy farmers.
There are instances where almost any hind
has apparently increased the crop, and also
more Instances Of perfect failure; yet
people are continually buying perhaps a
spuriou. article, OF are uumlndfal that the
condition OF their lands affecting vegetable
growth Is changing. and what might prove
beneficial one year 70 a certain Kind Of
crop. would have no acton another year.
Al any rate, II seems quite doubtful wheih'
er these fertilizers are a source OF profit to
the buyer. FARMER