lated country. Roads were built and regular methods of com- 

 munication formed, the distant farmer found a market, the 

 trader a staple commodity to deal in. AVe doubt not the crop 

 reports were read then as eagerly as now, but whether a corner 

 was ever formed in wheat or a tariff laid on raw material, his- 

 tory saith not. 



The Romans not only developed agriculture but highly hon- 

 ored the pursuit. The highest title possible to confer upon a 

 citizen was to call him a good husbandman. Cato, an author, a 

 general, and a statesman, added to his already famous name by 

 writing a book upon farming. They believe that 



111 fares that land to hast'ning ills a prey, 

 What wealth accumulates and men decay, 

 Princes and kings may flourish or may fade; 

 A breath can make them as a breath has made, 

 But a brave yeomanry, a country's pride, 

 If once they're lost can never be supplied. 



The Roman senate ordered the twenty-eight books of Mays of 

 Carthage translated into Latin for the benefit of the common 

 people, forming probably the first agricultural library in the 

 world. A century before the Christian era Rome possessed an 

 extensive and valuable agricultural literature ; many of the di- 

 rections given in the book of that time cannot be improved to- 

 day. As an example we may cite the rule given in a treatise on 

 gardening, to prepare the seed-bed thoroughly, making it fine 

 and deep ; cultivate the crop with care and allow nothing ex- 

 cept the crop to hold possession of the soil. A maxim among 

 them was, "The farmer may praise large estates, but let him 

 cultivate a small one. 



While the Romans held possession of Britain, important pro- 

 gress in its agriculture was made, confined however to, a small 

 section of the island. They were succeeded by the Saxons, 

 who were nomadic in habit, owning cattle but raising no hoed 

 crops. Barley was the only crop raised, and the people fre- 

 quently changed their residence, as pasturage for their cattle 

 required. The occupants of the soil had no security for prop- 



