The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1896-11-11
Tna Farmer il Ancient Tines
and Now.
Ohio Farmer.

Ohio Farmer.
Adam was gardener, Noah q
husbandman, and Abraham stock
man. Job had SEQ yoke Of oxen
which he used in plowing. Isaac
| sowed in the land of Gerar and
| reaped an hundred fold. The
ancient Egyptians are known to have
been skillful farmers. They were
ACQUAINTED with the benefits of rota
tion of crops, and were wise in
adapting these to the soil and the
seasons. The Nile river also gave
them natural irrigation, and they
made it also partly artificial. They
were great rearers Of poultry and
practiced artificial Matching or Gin
cubation." An Egyptian villa COM
prised all the conveniences OF a
European at the present day. There
were gardens, orchards, fshponds
and preserves for game. The grain
was stored in vaulted chambers,
furnished with an opening at the top,
reached by steps, into which it was
emptied from sacks, with an aperture
below for removing it when required.
The Israelites were classed as one
of the great agricultural nations OF
antiquity. The Mosaic Institute
contained an agrarian law based
upon an equal division of the soil
among the adult males. So success
full were they that not only fgura-
lively, but literally, every Israelite
sat under the shadow of his own
vine and fig tree.
The literature of Greece affords US
little information regarding the prac-
tical details of her husbandry. This
is due to the fact that the labor OF
cultivating the soil was laid upon the
race which they had conquered, and
so was treated with some contempt.
But when We find that valleys were
freed from lakes and morasses by
drainage, that the rock surfaces were
covered by transported soil, and that
they possessed excellent breeds OF
domesticated animals, we infer that
agriculture was better understood
than the illusions to it in their lite
rature would seem to warrant.
Amongst the ancient Romans agri-
culture was highly esteemed and
pursued with earnest 1--we and de-
voted attention. The most famous
families, such as the Pisones, Fabii,
Lentuii, ETC., took their names from
their favorite crops and vegetables.
Perhaps tits not too much to assert
that many of those qualities which
fitted them for conquering the world
were nourished and matured by the
skill, foresight and preserving in
dustry so needful for the intelligent
and successful cultivation of the soil.
Cicero makes Cato give a fine picture
of the ancient Roman enthusiasm in
agriculture.
I am not sure that the farmers OF
Ohio will endorse his eulogy on farm
ing with products so cheap as they
are at this time of depression. At
such time there is tendency to
belittle the occupation Of the farmer.
Especially the young men are in
clined to turn away from it to the
glittering promise of the great city.
But it seems to me that he who
stands nearest Natures heart, and at
first hand receives from her hand the
food of the millions, must have with
in himself the opportunity of being
one of Gods noblemen and that at
the last, when things are righted, be
must rank among the most honorable,
because the most helpful of men.
There are other drawbacks in this
as in other occupations. While labor
in the open air is healthful under
proper conditions, under others it
may be hurtful. 4 late spring
crowds three months work into two.
A threatening sky compels him to
do two days work in one or lose
part of the harvest for which he has
toiled so long. The marketing OF
grain or milk calls him out in all
kinds of weather, often exposing to
the severest storms. The danger is
that the farmer will find himself, day
after day, an exhausted man. But
it is difficult for an exhausted man to
maintain himself as q husband or
father, neighbor or citizen. He is
tempted to neglect those relation
ships which appeal to his higher
nature and which are so important