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FARM MANAGEMENT.

CHAPTER I

DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN AGRICULTURE

1. Primitive Agriculture. Historical writers agree that in early days, the inhabitants of the earth gained a livelihood by hunting and fishing. When the population of a region became so dense as to deplete the supplies of food to be gained in this way, the more enterprising ones tamed and domesticated some of the wild animals for their own use. These animals were given protection and provided with food so that they multiplied rapidly. In this way a supply of meat was insured for those who cared for and protected them. From hunting and fishing the people turned to such pursuits as grazing and herding, and gave much of their time to caring for animals. This was known as the pastoral stage of subsistence. It was more reliable than hunting and fishing for several reasons. By protecting the domesticated animals from the beasts of prey and driving away the less useful animals, larger numbers of useful animals were enabled to live in a given region. Food supplies of meat were therefore more plentiful and certain.

This custom of providing food supplies for animals led to the discovery that certain plants were better adapted for food than others. To raise these desirable plants in abundance it became necessary to destroy other plants that were not so useful, but which contended with the useful plants for possession of the soil. This may be said to be the beginning of agriculture. At least it was the first indication of the organization of nature's forces

to meet the needs of man. The demand for land for grazing and tilling purposes led to mutual agreements for territory which should be used for such purposes by certain persons or tribes, and is the first suggestion of land allotment or ownership.

2. Egyptian Agriculture. Various races of peoples have led in the development of agriculture at different times. Prior to the, date 500 years B. C. the Egyptians gave especial attention to a crude sort of farming. In certain other areas also, as India and Central America, where soil and climatic conditions were highly favorable, a type of agriculture was somewhat developed.

In Egypt the annual overflow of the river Nile which carried a rich deposit of black sediment, enriched a large tract of land on its borders and made it very fertile. No frosts or rainfalls

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interfered with the crop season and therefore agriculture became an important industry. There were no implements of value for farming. Plowing was done with a crooked stick drawn by oxen. The seed was sown broadcast by hand and tramped into the ground by driving sheep over it. Many of the plants now found in our fields and gardens were grown by the Egyptians. They included wheat, barley, flax, millet, sorghum, olives, dates, figs, watermelons, onion, radish and others. They also raised domestic animals of various kinds, including sheep, goats, swine, cattle and horses. Some of the farms were large and heavily stocked. Wild fowls were abundant but only the water fowls were domesticated.

3. Greek and Roman Agriculture. During the period 500 B. C. to 500 A. D. the Greeks and Romans made some advancement in agriculture due to the necessity of improved methods under their less favorable soil and climatic conditions. Plants are mentioned in the history of Grecian agriculture that are not found in Egyptian agriculture. Among these are turnips, cabbage, lettuce, alfalfa, cherries, plums, pears and apples. The cultivation of such crops as garden peas, kidney beans, poppies and hemp are also mentioned for the first time.

The Roman agriculture of the period is similar to that of Greece. Several agricultural writers appeared during this period. Columella, a Spaniard who lived in the first century A. D., is recorded as having written twelve books on Roman agriculture. He names knowledge, capital and a liking for it as essential to success in agriculture. In this work entitled "De Re Rustica," written in 56 A. D., he writes of the growing of forage crops and manures, of fruits, livestock, poultry, the garden and domestic economy. He recognized the principles of good farming and speaks of the proper sequence of crops, of crop rotation and of the value of alfalfa in adding fertility to the land. Alfalfa had been brought into Greece from Persia about 450 B. C. and into Italy about 140 B. C. Columella records the introduction of oats into Italy, which crop had not been known to the more ancient agriculture. He mentions also a number of hand tools and implements which were in use.

4. Medieval Agriculture. During the period 500 A. D. to 1500 A. D., very little progress was made in agriculture. No attempts seem to have been made to improve either crops or live stock. While a few individuals made contributions to agricultural knowledge, this period on the whole must be looked upon as one of stagnation.

5. British Agriculture. The agriculture of England has passed through many different stages. Because of scarcity of agricultural laborers between 1350 and 1375, many of the

owners of large estates were forced to change their system of farming. Previous to that time most of the tillable land had been devoted to grain raising, bread being the chief article of food. Then the land was changed into pasture, and sheep and cattle raising took a prominent place in British agriculture. For a long time it had been known that when land ceased to yield well, it could again be made to produce satisfactorily by allowing it to rest for a few years. The custom of resting the land was changed to one of cropping the land one year and fallowing it the next.

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FIG. 2.-One of the old style reapers. Grain was cut and left on the ground unbound. This method of harvesting required a large amount of man labor.

The greatest development came about the middle of the seventeenth century with the introduction of the Norfolk rotation which included clover and turnips as field crops. The chief advantage in these crops was the increased amount of feed, which enabled the farmer to keep more cattle on his land. Keeping of cattle gave manure that was applied to the land and resulted in better handling of the farms. The turnips took the place of bare fallowing which had previously been practiced, thus enabling the farmer to use all of his land each year.

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