140 



HISTORY OF AGRICULTURE. 



Part I. 



several successive weeks between these cities and the adjoining villages. The climate, 

 notwithstanding this sudden transition from heat to cold, is singularly healthy, with 

 the exception of the provinces of Ghilan, and Mazanderam. The air is dry ; the dews 

 not insalubrious. The atmosphere is always clear, and at night the planets shine with a 

 degree of lustre unknown in Europe ; and as it seldom rains, here are none of those 

 damps or pestiferous exhalations so common in the woody parts of Hindustan. 



851. The surface if Persia is distinguished by a deficiency of rivers and a multitude of 

 mountains ; its plains, where they occur, are generally desert. So that Persia may be 

 divided into two parts by deserts and mountains ; and this division, it is said, has generally 

 influenced its history and destinies in all ages. It is every where open, and no where 

 presents a thriving populous appearance. Even the cities and their environs have some- 

 thing of desolation and decay in their aspect, and many of them are actually ruined or 

 neglected, of which Buschire and its territory {Jig. 121.) is an example. The most 

 fertile and thriving provinces are those on the north. 



121 



852. The soil may be regarded as unfertile, and, according to Chardin, not more than 

 one-tenth part was cultivated in his time. The mountains of this country, which are for 

 the most part rocky, without wood or plants, are interspersed with vallies, some of which 

 are stony and sandy, and some consisting of a hard dry clay, which requires continual 

 watering; and hence the Persian cultivator is much employed in irrigation. In 

 generalthe soil of Persia is light and sandy in the south and east ; hard and gravelly in 

 the west, and rich and loamy on the borders of the Caspian sea. 



853. The landed j)ro2)erty of Persia, like that of other despotic countries, is considered 

 as wholly the property of the sovereign ; and held by the proprietors and occupiers on 

 certain conditions of military service, and supplies of men and provisions in time of 

 war. 



854. The agricultwal products of Persia are as various as the climate and soils. The 

 wheat is excellent, and is the common grain used in bread making. Rice, which is in 

 more universal use, is produced in great perfection in the northern provinces, which are 

 well watered. Barley and millet are sown, but oats are little cultivated : in Armenia 

 there is some rye. The vine is generally cultivated ; but in the north-west countries they 

 are obliged to bury the shoots to protect them from the frost. The silkworm is 

 cultivated in most parts of the country ; cotton and indigo are also grown, and no 

 country in the world equals Persia in the number 

 and excellence of its fruits. 



855. The date tree is grown in plantations in 

 the proportion of fifty females to two males. The 

 natives begin to impregnate the females with the 

 blossoms of the male in March and April, alleging, 

 that their proximity is not sufllicient to ensure 

 the produce of fruit : this practice has been car- 

 ried on among them from the earliest ages. 

 (Scot Waring s Persia, chap, xxix.) 



856. The most esteemed of the cultivated fruits 

 of Europe are indigenous in Persia, and have pro- 

 bably been diffused from hence over the western 

 world. These are the fig, the pomegranate, 

 the mulberry, the almond, peach, and apricot. 

 Orange-trees {fig. 122.) of an enormous size, are 

 found in the sheltered recesses of the mountains 

 and the deep, warm sand on the shore of the Cas- 

 pian is peculiarly favorable to the culture of the citron {fig. 123.), and the leguminous 



122 



