60 



Agriculture of Scotland, 



spect bestowed by its emperors upon the plough, by condescend- 

 ing, personally, once a-year, in presence of the nobility and great 

 officers of the empire, publicly to exhibit its properties and thus 

 extend its use. In Persia a feast was yearly celebrated by the 

 king, of which husbandmen were freely invited to partake at the 

 table of majesty; and the great Persian prophet, Zoroaster, re- 

 commended the saint in the Magian religion to manifest his de- 

 votion by pursuing industriously the labours of the field. The 

 Roman emperors, by their personal patronage, encouraged also 

 the pursuit of husbandry, and this art was ever held by them in 

 the highest estimation. Agricidture spread with the conquests of 

 their arms, and, instead of their track being marked by the deso- 

 lations which usually attend the march of the conqueror, the at- 

 tention of the Roman captains being specially directed to the 

 encouragement of the productions of the fields, the nations brought 

 under the influence of Rome became early distinguished by a 

 more advanced system of husbandry. There seems every reason 

 to believe that Britain owed its first lessons in agriculture, as an 

 art, to the Roman invasion. Besides the marks of extended cul- 

 tivation which were left by the Roman soldiers, the very consider- 

 able quantities of grain exported from Britain during the sway of 

 the Roman arms bear testimony to the fact, that the favour shown 

 to the peaceful labours of the field by the conquerors, possessed a 

 powerful influence in exciting the inhabitants to a more extended 

 cultivation. 



Subsequently, the Saxon Ruler of these isles being favourable 

 also to the promotion of husbandry, agriculture still continued 

 under them to maintain its influence among the people ; but the 

 introduction of the feudal system by the Norman conquest brought 

 in unsettled times, and the proud and ambitious barons being 

 more intent on distinction in a rude and cruel warfare, regarded 

 with contempt a pursuit which accorded so little with their tastes, 

 and which was rendered insecure by the internal feuds to which 

 their more ignoble enterprises gave rise. Hence agriculture ra- 

 pidly declined. A feudal kingdom has been rightly designated 

 the encampment of a great army ; and though the possession of 

 land was the remuneration which the soldier received for his ser- 

 vices, that possession was granted during pleasure, and so long 

 only as the vassal could render sufficient military aid. To afford 

 this service he was subject to be called away from his fields at the 

 most important seasons, his superior being anxious only for mili- 

 tary distinction, and, so far from patronizing, had no sympathy in 

 the degraded occupation of husbandry. This sad state of matters 

 prevailed during the lapse of many centuries, increased, perhaps, 

 by the more systematic and serious dissensions of after-times. 

 Until the return of quiet, and a more settled government, men 



