INTRODUCTION. IX 



At one period a citizen of that mighty empire could 

 not be rendered more illustrious than to be called a 

 skilful husbandman. Virgil, in his immortal poem, 

 has corroborated the fact, that men were distinguish- 

 ed by their love of this science. M. Cato, the great 

 orator, warrior and statesman, was more proud in 

 speaking of an agricultural work he had written, than 

 when he beheld triumphal arches rise to commemo- 

 rate his brilliant exploits in the field. Pliny, and 

 Varro, were also illustrious men who wrote upon, and 

 admired the subject of husbandry. The celebrated 

 Columella, who lived during the reign of the emperor 

 Claudius, gave to the world twelve books on Agricul- 

 ture, which were highly prized. 



But, unfortunately for the present day, as observed 

 before, the dark ages have buried in their eternal 

 gloom the proud monuments of many a glorious ge- 

 nius. But such is the fate of man. He builds, as he 

 vainly supposes, imperishable mementos to his re- 

 nown; yet, alas, they are touched by the noiseless 

 tooth of time, and they crumble into dust they 

 pass away like the flickering shadows of a summer's 

 evening. 



Yet though the noblest works of ancient genius 

 perish, and the remembrance of them only lives in 

 tradition, Agriculture shall still triumph, and shed its 

 light upon the world, when even the proudest poten- 

 tates of Europe have tumbled from their thrones, aad 

 are lost in the solitude of the grave* 



