The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-11-26
PRIMITIVE AGRICULTURE
How Early Tribes Drew Their Sustenance
from the Soil.
IRRIGATION KNOWN FROM EARLIEST TINES
How Nature Was Utilized by AGri-
cuIturists in Ancient Egypt.
Modern system.

Washington, November 25.-The most
prominent feature in the history of the
general growth and development of man is
agriculture Having its origin in necessity
its development has kept pace with man
advancement to the highly civilized plane
he has attained Beginning with the use
of nuts fruits, roots and game obtained
In the wild state, the requirements be-
came more eXactng, for man is in nature
never satisfied. The resort to planting
and growing for themselves the different
fruits which the early inhabitants of the
earth had been accustomed to use, was
but natural outcome of observing how
seeds sprouted grew and produced the
very articles of diet with which they were
familiar. The Increase of population in
the "cradIe of man gradually forced the
weaker tribes into the great deserts to the
West Here they encountered the hardest
conditions, finding nature against mem IN
land where water was scarce ana where
no vegetation could grow. except in the
immediate vicinity of springs. 1t was
under rigorous conditions that the desert
strength.
BY reason of their surroundings and the
hard struggle for existence, these people
became fatalists. Under the latter IN
fluencc of the Koran their fanatical IN
stiucts were aroused and they went form
TO the conquest of the world, TO convert
all 10 the doctrines OF Mohammed. They
are today sturdy. wiry race. but from
the first their training has been in the
hard school of adversely. Theirs was not
a land flowing with milk and honey, put
what they raised was by the aound AM
sweat of the brow. The culture OF the
simplest necessities meant lndeia' game
and patient labor.
From time immemorisl irrigation has
been practiced by man in aid OF agrieui-
ture in fact, the birth Of agriculture Vas
in irrigation. The idea undoubtedly org
mated in the apt illustration afforded hY
the cases in the deserts. Here, with sur
rounding sand hot, blistering drifting
sand. absolutely devoid OF vegetation, the
hardy sons of the desert We're wont TO seek
the graceful shade. Beside the springs
they could lie in the shadow OF The date
palm and sleep the sleep OF the weary, f2a-
ling refreshed and ready for the next jour
nav which was measured from OASIS TO
oasis. 1t was but natural for man TO
observe that where springs and water were
plentiful vegetation thrlyed. By the eul-
tiyation of the larger of these easls they
raised the food necessary for their simple
diet. When they needed more land fer
bagriculture IL was but natural - tempt
ia moistep the soil To secure water for
this wells were dug. From iheae lha
water was drawn by hand and carried n
leathern bags TO the little Paich whicn
they intended 10 cultivate
Where the desert extended along me
/ hanks OF a river, as the Nile or the
I Euphrates for instance, the water was
plentiful. II but needed TO be applied 70
me land to produce the crops needed by
man The sculptures OF ancient Egypt
( contnin figures OF men with yoke npo9
! tbsir shoulders bearing water pots TINS
wr,s Of course only possible where the
yya,ar was near al hand. Sculptures OF a
| ,i,,la later date show the use of The
| bucket and leyer--known as the shnd 'of
Ia he Arabs--the simple well swesp OF
~ older country homes aud still used
| Gov Irrisatine in many parts OF Egypt,
Arabia Persia and india II consists OF
mole nlyoted upon an upright with
sLtn bucket fastened to one end and
s,aia,t unon the other. With this the
,,a,er can be raised to the height OF eight
~ a., ,eet into trough, from which IL
60 ~ ;rio a small tank or surface reser-
nom' ivhere The water has 70 be raised
~ nrast height Il is accomplished hy a
| 10 grea' heis" ~ above tho other
! series of shadoofs, one apose ,nc o.n.''
! each depositing the water !. am 'nm ,-
| diately above. from Mh'eh ~ as,n
raised eight or ten feet ana 30 On unu'