The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-02-15

notwithstanding upward through
centuries Of defeat and victory, is thus
gradually ~subjugating natures forces
and utilizing to a ever-increasing ex-
tent the bounties of nature. But is
the victory complete? Is nature sub
dued and mans dominion assured?
Centuries of conquest still confront us,
is the only answer that science can
give.
Early Progress.
Nature was kind to her frst-born
children-human and animal alike.
For their food, the earth yielded herb
age and the forests, fruits and nuts.
Therefore, to select such edible plants
as grew spontaneously from the soil,
to gather fruits and nuts that the for
est brought forth, and to STAY the ami
mails and birds that abounded, for
food, vas the occupation Of primitive
man.
Contriving rude implements for the
chase or for war, and utilizing the
skins of animals for clothing or for
shelter to protect him from the wealth
err developed the germ of manufacture
and construction.
To select the useful plants and pro-
tect them from the e-ncroachment of
other plants. now called weeds, and to
domesticate certain types of animals
and to drive away or destroy others
less desirable was the beginning of
agriculture. The horse. the OK, the
camel, the elephant, the sheep and the
swine were domesticated at a very early
day and utilized for service or for
food. So early did the work of do
mestication begin that but few ami
mails have been domesticated within
historic times. Beasts of burden re-
lieved the strain of toll that human
Drawn and muscle had hitherto borne
and so marked q distinct epoch in hui
mar progress. Animal food and ami
NAL products also became more album
dant and accessible when f1ocks and
herds were established, for previous to
their establishment, animal food was
dependent chiefly upon the chase.
Fol- ages the breeding of animals
for numbers and a crude agriculture,
with the exception of war, constituted
the chief occupation of mankind. Not
until within recent years has any Sc
rious attempt been made to associate
agriculture with science or to elevate
1t to The dignity of a learned profess
sion.
Ancient Dignity of Agriculture.
It is true that agriculture, as an art,
was popular in the early ages and re-
ceiyed the homage Of the Assyrians,
Persians, Grecians and Romans alike.
The Romans and Grecians practiced
with delight and honor this most an
Gent and useful among the arts.
Mage, the Carthaginian general, wrote
twenty eight volumes, extolIing the
handling of the pillow and the sowing
and conquering of land. Riero III. Of
Syracuse, composed a book which gave
wise advice and excellent rules for
supporting and a~ugmenting the fertil-
ity OF the country" Among the Greeks.
Cato, Varo, and ColumelIa wrote elo-
quently Of that period when agricul-
ture was held in highest esteem by the
ancient world and was h~onorabiy prac-
ticed by the most renowned citizens Of
Greece n Rome. PRINCES did not
consider 1t beneath their birth or rank
to be h~usbandmen and to leave to
posterlty precepts upon agriculture
so sensible were they Of it's utility and
value" Roman senators lived almost
continually In the open country and
gloried in the art of husbandry during
the period that sheds fairest lustre III
on the Roman republic.
Agriculture D~iscredited.
Agriculture, however, became dis
credited when Greece, intoxicated with
impractical culture and luxury and en-
tering upon moral and political decline.
reiegated agriculture to the custody OF
slaves. @The Greek ideal presupposes
an almost entire exemption from i'm
dustrial pursuits, which ideal was
perpetuated through the centuries and,
unfortunately, adopted by modern in