Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-10-17
The FLOWING SEASON
Ancient Supersfit iuns of the Till.
ers of the Soil
SACRIFICES TO THE GODS.

the Romans Of Old - Ceremonies
That Are Observed an India and
china-Rites of the Siarness Farnaers.
The formal Inauguration of the pillow
Ing season is very ancient and still is
observed in some parts of the world.
Among the Romans by the institution
of varions religious festivals connect
ed with agriculture the seasons came
to be regarded with a sort Of sacred
reverence. Before the old Roman put
the pillow into the ground he went to
the temple of the goddess of earth,
Tellus, one of whose priests performed
certain propitiatory rites. Virgil in his
Georges advises the Roman hus-
bandman to observe the signs on heav-
en- according to the crop he desires to
produce. The time to plow for fax,
. barley and the sacred poppy was when
'sbalance has equalized the hours of
day and sleep and halves the world
exactly between light and shade. When
Z Taurus ushers in the year with his
gflded horns and Sirius sits facing the
threatening bull is time for beans. For
wheat and spelt the Pleiades should
hide themselves from your eyes with
the dawn. Many have begun before
Maria sets, but the desired crop has
baff1ed them with empty ears But
first of all the poet admonishes the
farmer to 'shonor the gods and offer
sacrifices to Ceres"
In India there are certain days when
IT Is unlawful to pillow. Mother Earth
Is supposed to sleep six days in every
month, and on such days she refuses
to be disturbed in her slumber.
In northwest India the cultivator
employs a pundit to select an auspi-
cious time for the commencement Of
blowing. Great secrecy is observed. In
some places the time selected is In the
night; in others daybreak Is the Gus
tomary time.
The pundit goes to a field, taking a
brass drinking vessel and branch Of
the sacred mango tree, which Is effica-
cious in frightening away evil spirits
that may haunt the field. Prithivi, the
broad world, and Sesha Maya, the
great snakes which support the world,
are supposed to be propitiated and
reconciled by this ceremony. The pun
dit satisfies himself as to the direction
in which the great snake is lying, for
it occasionally moves about a little to
ease itself Of the great burden Of the
broad world which 1t carries. The
pundit then marks off an imaginary
line. Five "a lucky number} clods Of
earth are thrown up, and water Is
sprinkled in the trench i've times with
the sacred mango bush to insure pro-
ductiveness. Caution must be exercised
lest the charm be broken and prospec-
tive fortune imperiled. The farmer
must remain secluded during the fol.
lowing day; no salt must be eaten, nc
money, grain or fire given away.
Among the Karnas before ploWing
the farmer makes burnt Offering Of
butter and molasses In his own field
and again at the village shrine.
The Chinese begin blowing on the
first day of their solar year. AncientIy
the rites which were celebrated by The
Chinese at blowing time were elabo
rate, but rationalistic sovereigns elm
mated one expensive religious rite aft
er another until nothing was left ex
cept the imperial act Of homage Il
heaven and earth and agriculture II
the ceremonial blowing.
The Siamese observe a rite called
& Raakua about the middle Of May
which is preliminary to the plowfn.
\ season, and it is not proper for an.
one to ploW until the ceremony 4
over The court astro1ogers determin,
the time for IT. On the day fixed b.
them the minister Of agriculture, VIII,
4 is always prince or nobleman o
high rank, goes with procession to
piece OF ground some distance iron
the capital Where the festivities ar
to take place a new plow, to which
q pair of buffaloes are yoked, Is In read
"a ness, decorated with flowers and leaves
The minister guides the plow owe
the field, closely watched by the spec
tators. who are especially intereste
In the length and folds of the silk o
his lower garments, because the pros
pEIltyr "a taS 6GdSOl chS4 CldA0ItSi
y istics, wet or dry, are to be predicte
Fl from these as he follows the ploa.
the robe rises from his knee there wi
d be disastrous rains. If it falls belo7
his ankles there will be a drought
the folds reach midway between kne
and ankle the season will be prospe
ors. ne
After proper number of furroN
have been turned old women sire
grain Of different kinds fn them an
bulls are released from the yoke an
allowed to feast upon the seeds. III
grain which the animals eat most fire.
" viii be scarce next harvest, and th,
which they refuse to take viii be abul
danf
In Yorkshire IT was considered nj
wise TO disturb the earth with ploW
spade on Good Friday change.
4 Al Shipwreck.
Muggins. gazing intently at q des
f1op II, a resigned tone ait last said.