the economist-第16部分

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＇3＇　Theophr。　〃De　Caus。〃　ii。　4；　12；　mentions　Leophanes　amongst　other　　　　　writers　on　agriculture　preceding　himself。

And　they　are　surely　right　in　their　assertion　（I　replied）；　for　he　who　does　not　know　what　the　soil　is　capable　of　bearing；　can　hardly　know；　I　fancy；　what　he　has　to　plant　or　what　to　sow。

But　he　has　only　to　look　at　his　neighbour's　land　（he　answered）；　at　his　crops　and　trees；　in　order　to　learn　what　the　soil　can　bear　and　what　it　cannot。＇4＇　After　which　discovery；　it　is　ill　work　fighting　against　heaven。　Certainly　not　by　dint　of　sowing　and　planting　what　he　himself　desires　will　he　meet　the　needs　of　life　more　fully　than　by　planting　and　sowing　what　the　earth　herself　rejoices　to　bear　and　nourish　on　her　bosom。　Or　if；　as　well　may　be　the　case；　through　the　idleness　of　those　who　occupy　it；　the　land　itself　cannot　display　its　native　faculty；＇5＇　it　is　often　possible　to　derive　a　truer　notion　from　some　neighbouring　district　that　ever　you　will　learn　about　it　from　your　neighbour's　lips。＇6＇　Nay；　even　though　the　earth　lie　waste　and　barren；　it　may　still　declare　its　nature；　since　a　soil　productive　of　beautiful　wild　fruits　can　by　careful　tending　be　made　to　yield　fruits　of　the　cultivated　kind　as　beautiful。　And　on　this　wise；　he　who　has　the　barest　knowledge＇7＇　of　the　art　of　tillage　can　still　discern　the　nature　of　the　soil。

＇4＇　Holden　cf。　Virg。　〃Georg。〃　i。　53；　iv。　109。　According　to　the　　　　　commentator　Servius；　the　poet　drew　largely　upon　Xenophon's　　　　　treatise。

＇5＇　Or；　〃cannot　prove　its　natural　aptitude。〃

＇6＇　Or；　〃from　a　neighbouring　mortal。〃

＇7＇　Or；　〃a　mere　empiric　in　the　art　of　husbandry。〃

Thank　you　（I　said）；　Ischomachus；　my　courage　needs　no　further　fanning　upon　that　score。　I　am　bold　enough　now　to　believe　that　no　one　need　abstain　from　agriculture　for　fear　he　will　not　recognise　the　nature　of　the　soil。　Indeed；　I　now　recall　to　mind　a　fact　concerning　fishermen；　how　as　they　ply　their　business　on　the　seas；　not　crawling　lazily　along；　nor　bringing　to；　for　prospect's　sake；　but　in　the　act　of　scudding　past　the　flying　farmsteads；＇8＇　these　brave　mariners　have　only　to　set　eyes　upon　crops　on　land；　and　they　will　boldly　pronounce　opinion　on　the　nature　of　the　soil　itself；　whether　good　or　bad：　this　they　blame　and　that　they　praise。　And　these　opinions　for　the　most　part　coincide；　I　notice；　with　the　verdict　of　the　skilful　farmer　as　to　quality　of　soil。＇9＇

＇8＇　Or；　〃the　flying　coastland；　fields　and　farmyards。〃

＇9＇　Lit。　〃And　indeed　the　opinions　they　pronounce　about　'a　good　soil'　　　　　mostly　tally　with　the　verdict　of　the　expert　farmer。〃

Isch。　At　what　point　shall　I　begin　then；　Socrates；　to　revive　your　recollection＇10＇　of　the　art　of　husbandry？　since　to　explain　to　you　the　processes　employed　in　husbandry　means　the　statement　of　a　hundred　details　which　you　know　yourself　full　well　already。

＇10＇　Or；　〃begin　recalling　to　your　mind。〃　See　Plat。　〃Meno；〃　for　the　　　　　doctrine　of　Anamensis　here　apparently　referred　to。

Soc。　The　first　thing　I　should　like　to　learn；　Ischomachus；　I　think；　if　only　as　a　point　befitting　a　philosopher；　is　this：　how　to　proceed　and　how　to　work　the　soil；　did　I　desire　to　extract　the　largest　crops　of　wheat　and　barley。

Isch。　Good；　then！　you　are　aware　that　fallow　must　be　broken　up　in　readiness＇11＇　for　sowing？

＇11＇　Or；　〃ploughed　up。〃　Cf。　Theophr。　〃Hist。　Pl。〃　iii。　i。　6；　Dion。　Hal。　　　　　〃Ant。〃　x。　17。

Soc。　Yes；　I　am　aware　of　that。

Isch。　Well　then；　supposing　we　begin　to　plough　our　land　in　winter？

Soc。　It　would　not　do。　There　would　be　too　much　mud。

Isch。　Well　then；　what　would　you　say　to　summer？

Soc。　The　soil　will　be　too　hard　in　summer　for　a　plough　and　a　pair　of　oxen　to　break　up。

Isch。　It　looks　as　if　spring…time　were　the　season　to　begin　this　work；　then？　What　do　you　say？

Soc。　I　say；　one　may　expect　the　soil　broken　up　at　that　season　of　the　year　to　crumble＇12＇　best。

＇12＇　｛kheisthai｝　=　laxari；　dissolvi；　to　be　most　friable；　to　scatter　　　　　readily。

Isch。　Yes；　and　grasses＇13＇　turned　over　at　that　season；　Socrates；　serve　to　supply　the　soil　already　with　manure；　while　as　they　have　not　shed　their　seed　as　yet；　they　cannot　vegetate。＇14＇　I　am　supposing　that　you　recognise　a　further　fact：　to　form　good　land；　a　fallow　must　be　clean　and　clear　of　undergrowth　and　weeds；＇15＇　and　baked　as　much　as　possible　by　exposure　to　the　sun。＇16＇

＇13＇　〃Herbage；〃　whether　grass　or　other　plants；　〃grass；〃　〃clover；〃　etc；　　　　　Theophr。　〃Hist。　Pl。〃　i。　3。　1；　Holden；　〃green　crops。〃

＇14＇　Lit。　〃and　not　as　yet　have　shed　their　seed　so　as　to　spring　into　　　　　blade。〃

＇15＇　Or；　〃quitch。〃

＇16＇　Holden　cf。　Virg。　〃Georg。〃　i。　65；　coquat；　ii。　260；　excoquere。　So　　　　　Lucr。　vi。　962。

Soc。　Yes；　that　is　quite　a　proper　state　of　things；　I　should　imagine。

Isch。　And　to　bring　about　this　proper　state　of　things；　do　you　maintain　there　can　be　any　other　better　system　than　that　of　turning　the　soil　over　as　many　times　as　possible　in　summer？

Soc。　On　the　contrary；　I　know　precisely　that　for　either　object；　whether　to　bring　the　weeds　and　quitch　grass　to　the　surface　and　to　wither　them　by　scorching　heat；　or　to　expose　the　earth　itself　to　the　sun's　baking　rays；　there　can　be　nothing　better　than　to　plough　the　soil　up　with　a　pair　of　oxen　during　mid…day　in　midsummer。

Isch。　And　if　a　gang　of　men　set　to；　to　break　and　make　this　fallow　with　the　mattock；　it　is　transparent　that　their　business　is　to　separate　the　quitch　grass　from　the　soil　and　keep　them　parted？

Soc。　Just　so！to　throw　the　quitch　grass　down　to　wither　on　the　surface；　and　to　turn　the　soil　up；　so　that　the　crude　earth　may　have　its　turn　of　baking。



XVII

You　see；　Socrates　（he　said；　continuing　the　conversation）；　we　hold　the　same　opinion；　both　of　us；　concerning　fallow。

Why；　so　it　seems　（I　said）the　same　opinion。

Isch。　But　when　it　comes　to　sowing；　what　is　your　opinion？　Can　you　suggest　a　better　time　for　sowing　than　that　which　the　long　experience　of　former　generations；　combined　with　that　of　men　now　living；　recognises　as　the　best？　See；　so　soon　as　autumn　time　has　come；　the　faces　of　all　men　everywhere　turn　with　a　wistful　gaze　towards　high　heaven。　〃When　will　God　moisten　the　earth；〃　they　ask；　〃and　suffer　men　to　sow　their　seed？〃＇1＇

＇1＇　See　Dr。　Holden's　interesting　note　at　this　point：　〃According　to　　　　　Virgil　（'Georg。'　i。　215）；　spring　is　the　time；〃　etc。

Yes；　Ischomachus　（I　answered）；　for　all　mankind　must　recognise　the　precept：＇2＇　〃Sow　not　on　dry　soil〃　（if　it　can　be　avoided）；　being　taught　wisdom　doubtless　by　the　heavy　losses　they　must　struggle　with　who　sow　before　God's　bidding。

＇2＇　Or；　〃it　is　a　maxim　held　of　all　men。〃

Isch。　It　seems；　then；　you　and　I　and　all　mankind　hold　one　opinion　on　these　matters？

Soc。　Why；　yes；　where　God　himself　is　teacher；　such　accord　is　apt　to　follow；　for　instance；　all　men　are　agreed；　it　is　better　to　wear　thick　clothes＇3＇　in　winter；　if　so　be　they　can。　We　light　fires　by　general　consent；　provided　we　have　logs　to　burn。

＇3＇　Or；　〃a　thick　cloak。〃　See　Rich；　s。v。　Pallium　（=　｛imation｝）。

Yet　as　regards　this　very　period　of　seed…time　（he　made　answer）；　Socrates；　we　find　at　once　the　widest　difference　of　opinion　upon　one　point；　as　to　which　is　better；　the　early；　or　the　later；＇4＇　or　the　middle　sowing？

＇4＇　See　Holden　ad　loc。　Sauppe；　〃Lex。　Xen。；〃　notes　｛opsimos｝　as　Ionic　　　　　and　poet。　See　also　Rutherford；　〃New　Phryn。〃　p。　124：　〃First　met　　　　　with　in　a　line　of　the　'Iliad'　（ii。　325）；　｛opsimos｝　does　not　appear　　　　　till　late　Greek　except　in　the　'Oeconomicus；'　a　disputed　work　of　　　　　Xenophon。〃

Soc。　Just　so；　for　neither　does　God　guide　the　year　in　one　set　fashion；　but　irregularly；　now　suiting　it　to　early　sowing　best；　and　now　to　middle；　and　again　to　later。

Isch。　But　what；　Socrates；　is　your　opinion？　Were　it　better　for　a　man　to　choose　and　turn　to　sole　account　a　single　sowing　season；　be　it　much　he　has　to　sow　or　be　it　little？　or　would　you　have　him　begin　his　sowing　with　the　earliest　season；　and　sow　right　on　continuously　until　the　latest？

And　I；　in　my　turn；　answered：　I　should　think　it　best；　Ischomachus；　to　use　indifferently　the　whole　sowing　season。＇5＇　Far　better＇6＇　to　have　enough　of　corn　and　meal　at　any　moment　and　from　year　to　year；　than　first　a　superfluity　and　then　perhaps　a　scant　supply。

＇5＇　Or；　〃share　in　the　entire　period　of　seed　time。〃　Zeune　cf。　〃Geop。〃　　　　　ii。　14。　8；　Mr。　Ruskin's　translators；　〃Bibl。　Past。〃　vol。　i。；　cf。　　　　　Eccles。　xi。　6。

＇6＇　Lit。　〃according　to　my　tenet；〃　｛nomizo｝。

Isch。　Then；　on　this　point　also；　Socrates；　you　hold　a　like　opinion　with　myselfthe　pupil　to　the　teacher；　and　what　is　more；　the　pupil　was　the　first　to　give　it　utterance。

So　far；　so　good！　（I　answered）。　Is　there　a　subtle　art　in　scattering　the　seed？

Isch。　Let　us　by　all　means　investigate　that　point。　That　the　seed　must　be　cast　by　hand；　I　presume　you　know　yourself？

Soc。　Yes；　by　the　testimony　of　my　eyes。＇7＇

＇7＇　Lit。　〃Yes；　for　I　have　seen　it　done。〃

Isch。　But　as　to　actual　scattering；　some　can　scatter　evenly；　others　cannot。＇8＇

＇8＇　Holden　cf。　W。　Harte；　〃Essays　on　Husbandry；〃　p。　210；　2nd　ed。；　〃The　　　　　main　perfection　of　sowing　is　to　disperse　the　seeds　equally。〃

Soc。　Does　it　not　come　to　this；　the　hand　needs　practice　（like　the　fingers　of　a　harp…player）　to　obey　the　will？

Isch。　Precisely　so；　but　now　suppose　the　soil　is　light　in　one　part　and　heavy　in　another？

Soc。　I　do　not　follow；　by　〃light〃　do　you　mean　weak？　and　by　〃heavy〃　strong？

Isch。　Yes；　that　is　what　I　mean。　And　the　question　which　I　put　to　you　is　this：　Would　you　allow　both　sorts　of　soil　an　equal　share　of　seed？　or　which　the　larger？＇9＇

＇9＇　See　Theophr。　〃Hist。　Pl。〃　viii。　6。　2；　Virg。　〃Georg。〃　ii。　275。　　　　　Holden　cf。　Adam　Dickson；　〃Husbandry　of　the　Ancients；〃　vol。　ii。　35。　　　　　33　f。　（Edin。　1788）；　〃Were　the　poor　light　land　in　Britain　managed　　　　　after　the　manner　of　the　Roman　husbandry；　it　would　certainly　　　　　require　much　less　seed　than　under　its　present　management。〃

Soc。　The　stronger　the　wine　the　larger　the　dose　of　water　to　be　added；　I　believe。　The　stronger；　too；　the　man　the　heavier　the　weight　we　will　lay　upon　his　back　to　carry：　or　if　it　is　not　porterage；　but　people　to　support；　there　still　my　tenet　holds：　the　broader　and　more　powerful　the　great　man's　shoulders；　the　more　mouths　I　should　assign　to　him　to　feed。　But　perhaps　a　weak　soil；　like　a　lean　pack…horse；＇10＇　grows　stronger　the　more　corn　you　pour　into　it。　This　I　look　to　you　to　teach　me。＇11＇

＇10＇　Or；　〃lean　cattle。〃

＇