Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1908-11-14
THE FLOWING SEASON
Ancient Superstitlons of the Till
erS of the Soil.
SACRIFICES TO THE GODS,


The formal Inauguration of the plow-
ing season Is very ancient and still is
observed in some parts Of the world.
Among the Romans by the institution
of various 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 10 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
balance has equalizeo the hours of
day and sleep and halves the world
exactly between light and shade. When
Taurus uehers 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
bafled them with empty ears" But
first Of all the poet admonishes the
farmer to ''honor the gods and offer
sacrifices 10 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 a branch of
the sacred mango tree. which is efiica-
ci0us In frightening away evil spirits
that may haunt the field. Prithiyi, the
broad world, and Sesha Maya. the
great snakes which support the world.
are supposed to be propitated and
neconciled by this ceremony. The pun
dit satisfies himself as to the direction
in which the great snake is lying, for
II occasionally moves about a little 10
ease itself Of the great burden OF the
broad world which II carries. The
pundit then marks on an imaginary
line. Five "a lucky number) clods Of
earth are thrown up and water is
sDrinkled IN the trench FIVE times with
the sacred mango bush TO insure pro-
ductYeness. Caution must be exercised
lest the charm be broken and pr0spec-
tive fortune impenled 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 q burnt Offering OF
butter and m0lasses Ia hie own field
and again ~ the village shrine.
The Chinese begin blowing on the
first day Of their solar year Anelenuy
the rites which were celebrated by ne
Chinese az blowing time Were elabo
rate, bat raiionalistic Royereigne elm
mated one expensive religious rio at
ef another uniil nothing was leff "a
cept tle Imperial Roi ~ homage io
heaven nna earth and Agriculture AL
the ceremonial blowing
1le hlamese observe a rlto called
hnallua about the mlddle of Nay
Wpiep d preliminary ~ tle ploWlng
season, Apd a d noi proper f0r ans
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over 1Ae cour ns4oloseff aeiernlue
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flem iNe minister NJ aglioulipfe Hno
n alHAyp prince ~ nohleuan III
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u. L.
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