Companion for the Orchard

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. It is, says he, an employment the most worthy Of the application of man, the most ancient and the most suitable to his nature it is the common nurse Of all per sons in every age and condition Of life; it is the source of health, strength, plenty, riches, and of a thousand sober delights and honest pleasures; it is the mistress and school of sobriety, temperance, justice, religion, and, in short, of all virtues, both civil and military. To shew in what esteem those persons who encouraged or improved this art, were held by the ancients, Plutarch tells us that Ceres and Bacchus were mortals deified for having bestowed on mankind the knowledge Of raising fruits. At Rome, especially during the Commonwealth, the greatest generals, consuls, and dictators, with the same victorious hands that overthrew the enemies Of their state in war, turned up the earth in time of peace.