Phytologia; or the philosophy of agriculture and gardening. With the theory of draining morasses and with an improved construction of the drill plough / By Erasmus Darwin.

  • Darwin, Erasmus, 1731-1802.
Date:
1800
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Phytologia; or the philosophy of agriculture and gardening. With the theory of draining morasses and with an improved construction of the drill plough / By Erasmus Darwin. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Befides which the people of agriculture are more adlive and robuft than the people of pafturage, and more ingenious in the invention;, and ufe of machines necefl'ary for the more artful cultivation of the foil, as well as more numerous, and will confequently become fiupe- rior to them in arms and arts, and may in procefs of time conquer them ; which reminds us of the Egyptian Dynafty of Shepherd- kings, who were fubdued by their agricultural rivals; and alio of the allegorical hiflory of Cain flaying Abel, which were probably the names of two political hieroglyphic figures reprefenting the ages of pafturage and of agriculture before the invention of letters. It mull hence certainly be an object of good policy to encourage agriculture in preference to pafturage, which in this country might be effedled by preventing the enclofure of arable lands, and alfo of thofe parts of commons, which are beft adapted to the growth of corn ; though the whole might be advantageoufly divided into pri- vate property. Unlefs fome other means could be devifed of pre- venting a nation from becoming too carnivorous, or of duly promot- ing the cultivation of grain, the former of which was heretofore pro- duced by religious faft-days twice a week, and the latter by bounties on the exportation of corn. To which might be added a total pro- hibition of the deftrudtive manufactory of grain into fpirits, or into ftrong ale, and thus converting the natural nutriment of mankind into a chemical poifon, and thus thinning the ranks of fociety both by leftening their quantity of food, and (liortening their lives by difi* eafe. In many villages, where much arable lands have been lately en- doled, the numbers of labouiing people have quickly been much di- minifhed both by the fcarcity of food, and want of employment. Worfe fares the land, to haftening ills a prey. Where wealth accumulates, but men decay j Princes or lords may flourilh, or may fade, A breath can make them, as a breath has made; But