No. 7. DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE 639 



SOIL CULTIVATION. 



By WM. DOELIN, Mercer, Pa. 



There is no industry known to the human race so necessary as 

 that of the cultivation of the soil; none so varied in its character and 

 none more widely diffused over the surface of the earth. But his- 

 tory does not give us much knowledge of the methods practiced, 

 nor the implements used in ancient times, in the prosecution of the 

 work. Most of this being traditional, it has long since passed into 

 oblivion; but the Scriptures place the date of its commencement at 

 the Gate of Paradise, when Adam and Eve went forth, and a flam- 

 ing sword was placed to guard forever that happy abode from human 

 entrance, and even within the Paradise of Pleasure, perhaps beneath 

 the shadOAv of the Tree of Life, breathing the perfumes of the bloom 

 ing plants, with sinless hands, they toiled to dress and keep the gar- 

 den of delights. 



Doubtless the first implements used in the cultivation of the 

 soil were very rude, and that hand work was the only method. The 

 Egyptians seem to be the first people who practiced agriculture on 

 an extensive scale and furnished agricultural products to other 

 nations, and were the foremost nation in the world at that time in 

 this industry as well as every art and science. It was there that 

 the famine stricken Israelites went for corn in the days of the Patri- 

 arch Jacob, when they were but a tribe of shepherds dwelling in the 

 land of Canaan, and unskilled in agriculture. Having put in a long 

 term of bondage in the land of Egypt, during which time they were 

 taught all the best methods of agriculture, they afterwards returned 

 to the Promised Land and made the wealth and glory of the reign of 

 Solomon, when their houses were lined with gold, and silver was as 

 plentiful as the stones of the fields. This prosperity continued until 

 by their own moral corruption they fell again beneath the feet of 

 the oppressor. 



From Egypt a knowledge of agriculture was extended to Greece, 

 and was in a flourishing condition a thousand years before the Chris- 

 tian era. A high appreciation of agriculture also existed among the 

 early Romans and considerable improvement was made by them in 

 agricultural implements. From these starting points a tide of agri- 

 cultural improvement began to flow over all the nations of Europe, 

 and which has resulted in the grand development of the present day. 



Now as to the practical part of farming, or the cultivation of the 

 soil. For all crops, fall or spring, the plowing should be done. If 

 possible, when the ground is dry. If the soil is worked when wet H^ 

 is made into a mortar and when it becomes dry is usually in hard 

 lumps, from which plants can receive but little benefit. For most 

 crops the soil should be plowed from eight to ten inches in depth, 

 as it is principally from the soil thus worked that plants receive 

 their nutriment, and in dry weather a better supply of moisture is 



