No. 4.] AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS. 251 



AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS. 



BY HENRY C. COMINS OF NORTHAMPTON. 



The origin of agriculture is lost in the mists of antiquity, 

 yet tilling the soil was doulrtless man's earliest occupation. 

 The cereals, and perhaps some kinds of fruit, presumably 

 first engaged his attention. The domestication of animals 

 necessarily soon followed. Prof. W. Boyd Hawkins says 

 that there is evidence that the domestication of animals was 

 first accomplished in the central plateau of Asia. He also 

 thinks that agriculture arose in the south of Europe, and 

 gradually spread in all directions. 



The natural tendency of mankind in the earliest times is 

 supposed to have been averse to w^ork, and perhaps it has 

 not materially changed in modern times. But fate is 

 stronger than will, and at various periods mankind has 

 been forced to work. To speculate as to the time and rea- 

 sons or necessity for the cultivation of the soil, while it 

 might be interesting, would not result in definite conclusions 

 that will materially benefit us or mankind generally, or de- 

 termine for us whether it was by individual or organized 

 efibrt. It is probable, however, that the natural laws of 

 life, the survival of the fittest, which actuates both animate 

 and inanimate nature, was the controlling influence wdiich 

 led to individual ellbrts to improve conditions. In all 

 probability these efibrts were largely imitative, and only as 

 time advanced and necessity compelled were new methods 

 adopted. The development of agriculture must have been 

 slow at first, and only as necessity compelled was any prog- 

 ress made. The early settlers of our own land took no 

 thought in regard to improvements, depending upon natural 

 surroundings to a great extent to meet their necessities, 

 rather than upon any well-directed efibrt for improvemeDt 

 for their future welfare, comfort or enjoyment. 



