Transactions of the Department of Agriculture of the State of Illinois with Reports from County and District Agricultural Organizations for the Year V (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1874 edition. Excerpt: ... centuries after, Rome attempted to adopt through the Plebians and their partisans in opposition to the Patricians. The Romans must have excelled in agriculture, and in all of the territorial acquisitions, thither followed the aft of husbandry. Columella, Varo and Plinywere eminent writers upon the rural industries, and the works of Pliny are not obsolete in our day. He says: the earth took delight in being tilled by the hands of men crowned with laurels, and decorated with triumphal honors. Cincinnatus was a farmer, statesman and a noble old Roman, the best of all. Thus we see that the art which bears thrift withoutfawning and is the foundation of all national wealth, has had the encouragement and the prestige of ages to elevate into the the noblest and grandest of mankind Kings and potentates have not thought it beneath their dignity to become patrons of husbandry. Indeed they have been ambitious to own and manage estates, to beautify and adorn them, to reach points in their lives when they could cast aside their symbols of royalty, when they could lay down their diadems and scepters, and retire from the stormy conflicts consequent upon the maintenance of power; exchanging their regal symbols for the symbols of peace, the intrigues of diplomacy for the quiet enjoyment of the free and unrestrained life of the husbandman. " MODERN REVIVAL OF TIIE ART. In 1840, Justus Leibig and Bousingault began the analysis of soils, a subject previously broached by Sir Humphiey Davy before the English Board of Agriculture. Centuries of practice of the art had made little change in this industry until these savans evolved the true theory of plant food. To Leibig belongs the credit of discovering the earth and air...