Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1908-10-07
THE FLOWING SEASON
Ancient Superstitions of the Till
ers of the Soil.
SACRIFICES TO THE GODS.

Customs That Were In voque Arono
the Romans Of Old - Ceremonies
That Are Observed In India and
Chins-Rites OF the Siau,ese Farmers
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
or various religious festivals connect
ed with agriculture the seasons came
to be regarded with sort OF sacred
reverence. Before the old Roman put
the plow into the ground he went TO
the temple of the goddess OF earth.
Ielius. one or whose priests performed
certain propitiatory rites. Virgil In bis
Georges" advises the Roman hus.
oandman to observe the signs on heav-
en- according TO the crop he desires 10
produce. The time to plow for FAX.
oa--ey and the sacred poppy was when
balance has eQualized the hours OF
day and sleep and halves the world
exactly between light and shade. when
Taurus ushers In the year with his
gilded 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
bafiied them with empty ears" But|
first or all the poet admoniShcs the
farmer to honor the gods aud Offer
sacrifices to Ceres
In India there are certain days whe 4
II Is unlawful TO pillow. Mother I, ,r.'
is supposed to sleep six days In cvcr..
month. and on such days she rrci:se
to be disturbed in her slumber
In northwest India the cultivator
employs pundit TO select an ausI,i.
cious time for the commencement az
blowing. Great secrecy Is Observed /,
some places the time selected Is "a Ia,
night; in others daybreak is the su>
tomary time
The pundit goes to a field. taking \
brass drinking vessel aud branch OF
the sacred mango tree. which is c.nca
cious In frightening away evil spirit,
that may haunt the field Prithivi. tho
broad world. and Sesha Maya thr
great snakes which support the world
are supposed TO be propiiinted and
reconciled by this ceremony The MN
dit satisfies himself as to the direction
In which the great snake is lying. for
1t occasionally moves about n little 10
ease iteelf OF the great burden OF the
broad world which Il carries The
pundit then marks of an imaginary
line. Five "a lucky numberl clols of
earth are thrown up. and water is
sprinkled In the trench five 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. no
money, grain or fire given away.
Among the Karnas before blowing
the farmer makes n 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
er another until nothing was left ex-
cept the imperial act OF homage TO
heaven and earth and agriculture in
the ceremonial blowing.
The Siamese observe n rite called
Raakua about the middle OF May,
which is preliminary 10 the blowing
season. and II is not proper for any
one to plow until the ceremony Is
over. The court astrologers determine
the time for II. On the day fixed by
them the minister OF agriculture, who
Is always a prince or nobleman of
high rank. goes with n procession 10 a
piece of ground some distance from
the capital. Where the festivities are
to take place a new plow. to which q
pair Of bufraloes are yoked. Is in readi-
ness, decorated with flowers and leaves
The minister guides the pillow over
the field, closely watched by the spec
tators. who are especially interested
In the length and folds OF the silk OF
his lower garments. because the pros
perity OF the season and its character
istics. wet or dry, are 10 be predicted
from these as ne follows the plo.S. IL
the robe rises from his knee there will
be disastrous rains II II falls below
his ankles there will he n drought. II
the folds reach midway between knee
and ankle the season will he prosper
Gus.
After a proper number OF burrows
have been turned old women strew
grain Of different kinds In them and
bulls are released from the yoke and
allowed to feast upon the seeds. The
grain which the animals eat most free
~ VIII be scarce next harvest. and that
which they refuse TO take will be album
dant
In Yorkshire it was considered I'M
wise to disturb the earth with plow or
spade on Good Friday.-Exchange
L.