S06 HISTORY OF AGRICULTURE. Part I. 



occupiers are often for weeks together without getting a view of the plains or valleys 

 below. 



1263. That soil must influence the agriculture of a country appears at first sight very 

 obvious ; though, if climate is favourable, time and art will render the soil fit for any 

 species of culture. Naturally, however, soil has a powerful influence ; and the period, 

 under ordinary management, will be considerable, before strong deep clays on a flat 

 surface can be rendered equally fit for the turnip or potato, with friable loams, or more 

 gravelly or sandy soils. 



1264. The influence of moisture on the state of lands is naturally very considerable ; 

 and though draining or irrigation can effectually remove excesses or supply deficiency, yet 

 fen lands and chalk hills, such as we find in Huntingdonshire, Surrey, and other counties, 

 will ever have a peculiar character of agriculture ; the marsh perennial hay grasses will 

 be the characteristic plants of the former, and saintfoin of the latter. 



1265. As the general result of this outline of the influence of physical circumstances on 

 agriculture, we. may form a classification of that of any particular country to whichever 

 of the four universal divisions (1254. to 1257.) it belongs. We submit the following : 



1266. The agriculture of water-fed lands, including fens, marshes, and marsh 

 meadows. 



1267. The agriculture of sun-burnt lands, including chalk, gravel, and sandy hills, 

 wheie vegetation is annually more or less burned up during two or more of the summer 

 months. 



1 268. The agriculture of mountains, in which the farmery is placed on the farm, as 

 distinguished from those cases in which the whole or a part of the mountain lands is ap- 

 pended to lands on the plain. 



1269. Common agriculture, or that of the plains, valleys, and hills of a country, in which 

 all the crops and all the animals suitable to the climate may be profitably cultivated and 

 reared. 



Chap. III. 



Agriculture as affected by Civil, Political, and Religious Circumstances. 



1 270. The influence of the state of society and government on agriculture must, as well as 

 the climate and situation, obviously be very considerable ; for it will signify little what a 

 country is capable of producing, if the inhabitants are too barbarous to desire, too igno- 

 rant to know, or too much oppressed to attain, these products. Some of the finest lands 

 in the world, capable of producing wheat, maize, rice, and the grape, are inhabited by 

 savages, who live on game, wild frrats, or native roots ; or by half-civilised tribes who 

 cultivate maize and yams, or some other local root. Even in Ireland, where the soil is 

 better than in Britain, and with very moderate culture will produce excellent wheat and 

 other corns, with beef, mutton, and wool, the greater part of the inhabitants, from igno- 

 rance, oppression, and in part, as we have seen (852. ), religious slavery, content themselves 

 with roots and rags, the latter often the cast off refuse of other countries. 



1271. The state of civilisation and refinement of a people not only influences agriculture 

 by the nature of the products such a state requires, but also by the means of production it 

 affords ; by the superior ease with which information on every subject may be attained ; and 

 by the existing state of knowledge, for example, in mechanics, chemistry, and physiology, 

 by which the implements and machines are improved, the operations of soils and manures 

 regulated, the influence of water, the atmosphere, and the functions of plants and animals 

 understood. The difference in the means taken to effect the same end in a poor but yet 

 ingenious country, and in one rich and enlightened, is exemplified in China and India, as 

 compared with Britain. Wealth and ignorance, as contrasted with poverty and ingenuity, 

 may also be exemplified in comparing the farmer of Hindustan with the English farmer. 

 The latter, to stir the soil, employs an unwieldy implement drawn by several oxen or 

 horses ; the fomner uses a small light implement drawn by one ox or buffalo, but effects his 

 object by repeating the operation many times. The Englishman effects it at once, often 

 in spite of the worst means, by main force. The processes of Chinese manufacture are 

 exceedingly curious and ingenious, and form a remarkable contrast to the rapid and sci- 

 entific processes of Britain. There are many curious practices in France and Germany, 

 the result of poverty and ingenuity. In Brittany the whin is used as horse provender : 

 to bruise the spines one man operates on a simple but ingenious machine {fig. 177.), 

 and effects his purpose completely. Here the same thing is done by a couple of iron 

 rollers turned by a horse or by water : but the farmer of Brittany, who would purchase 

 a pair of whin-bruising rollers, must first sell the greater part of his stock and crop. 



