VOL. XXIV.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., APBIL 27,1889.
NO. 17
Agriculture In European Turkey.
[Pap.rre-d befor. the Marlon Ounty Agricultural aud Horticultural Society at Its last meeting, by
Mrs. Anna Prettyman, of this city, formerly a missionary to Turkey.
Every phase of life seems to he unavoidably linked with some other existing condltion,so that in attempting to untangle these links one is reminded of the
clinging masses of "death shade" which so
gracefully festoons the trees of Southern
forests. So when I would attempt to put
into words a description of Turkish methods of farming, many other thoughts seem
inseparable from this link in their poor
lives. Geographers tell us that "European Turkey occupies part of the most
easterly of the three great peninsulas of
Southern Europe." In this assertion no
hint is given of the wonderful producing
qualities of that small portion of the
globe, every spot of which is replete with
historical interest—the rise and fall of empires—the Betting up and casting down of
princes and kings. The peasantry of Bul-
garia would never suggest a thought that
the households of their ancestry furnished
heroes and martyrs, if brave endurance of
suffering and patient forbearance amid
oppression constitute true heroism. But
in every land and amid varied surroundings one fact remains ever the same, that
MAN HOLDS MASTERY OVER NATURE.
Where nature offers favorable conditions
of production, man is the agent for seen
ring tha highest results, but if nature is
deficient in natural qualities the ingenuity of man will find some means to supply the lack. But in every case the best
and highest result in the development of
any country is only reached, when Christianity goes hand in hand with civilization. In 1861a band of missionaries braved
the waters of the Atlantic in the good
Swedish vessel "Lamertine," landing at
the Sublime Porte. Bat while they were
intent upon saving souls, they kept one
eye partly open to their earthly surroundings, and reminded one of the witty sayings and doings of Peter Cartiight of Ohio
pioneer days. When asked by a too pious
sister if he felt he "was sanctified," he
locked her over and replied "well, sister,
in spots." So missionaries, be they ever
bo devout may have "spots" of carnal
speculation running through their humanity. I well remember the covetous
desires for speculative ability I entertained to be able to turn the lovely plains
of Turkey into elegant farms, and the
mud huts of the peasants into solid, com
fortable farm houses. A contrary wind
held the five missionaries prisoners of
misery at the mouth of the Dardanelles,
nntU every fiber of the body was chilled
by the piercing wind, and the eyes ached
from watching the swift running current
of water as it fairly tumbled from cne sea
into another. But one bright sunny morning they found themselves gently wafted
over the smooth surface of
THE SEA OF MARMORA.
The spices of "Araby the blest" perfumed the soft southern breeze,and a spell
of weird enchantment enthralled their
spirits. The pale tint of the blue quiet
sea,reflected a sky as fair—a shadowy mist
pervaded the air, like the haze of a magician'-* laboratory. Far away the hill-
Bides were covered with' the clustering
grape vines, overhanging gardens seemed
suspended in mid air by invisible cords,
and were bright with vines, flowers, the
crimson pomegranate and purple figs.
Here and there the tall cypress trees were
mute witnesses that even through the
"Golden Gate" of the Orient, death had
found a passage. Birds of bright plumage
flitted near ns—the sweet waters of Asia
were just beyond. Marble palaces of
purest white glinted in the sunshine.built
on the waters' edge, the shrill call of the
muezzins greeted us, as it rang out in
imperative demand to the faithful, to
"come to prayers, come to prayers, for
God is great and Mohammed is His prophet," as they slowly walked around the
gilded domes of countless mosques, their
spires piercing the sky, presented a scene
AS FAIR AS ROMANCE EVER PICTURED.
The surface cf the slumbering water was
mottled with gaily robed, white veiled
specters, called women—seated in white
painted, sharp pointed caiques, which
skimmed the sea like sea gulls, and as
their dark beautiful eyes gazed into curs
we wondered if houris were only myths
of the prophet's brain. The light of Aladdin's lamp shed a glamour over all eight*-,
and sirens seemed beckoning us shoreward, and we obeyed the charming call.
After 70 days of sea life, mother earth
seemed very fair. We were impatient to
once more touch a firm foundation, and
hastened to the shore. Alas! my countrymen, what a sight greeted us. Will
Carle ton's vision was reversed in our ex>
perlence—our few brief hours in paradise
while floating  up the Golden  Horn were
exchanged for seven years In Turkey.
As we threaded the dark,narrow streets of
old Stamboul, we picked our way amid
dead cats, garbsgg of all descrlptlon,snarl-
ing dogs, and Turks prostrate in prayer.
The market seemed continuous, and piles
of fruit and vegetables of every kind were
in heaps npon the ground, wherever a
peasant happened to feel'like selling out.
We forgot the romantic sensations of an
hour ago, and felt that appetite was gone
forever. After six months sojourn on the
shores of the Black Sea the missionaries
moved inland 70 miles toward the Balkan
mountains and then began their first experience in
TURKISH AGRICULTURE.
Miles and miles of lovely plains stretched
out before tis. Tne sky seemed.ethereal.
The clear air rendered the natural vision
a seeming delusion. The vine covered
hillsides seemed just at hand, but were
really miles away. In the midst of a plain
the white marble of a fountain would suddenly rise from the earth, the sparkling
waters would seem leaping toward us, yet
hours would pass before we could quench
our thirst. An approach to a village is
marked by infallible signs—a mound of
garbage—a pack of dogs, and a cluster of
mud huts, and from this group of uninviting realities we could take our view of
the plans for agriculture, meager, crude
and easy. With a climate mild as paradise, vast plains teeming with luxurious
richness*, the hillsides bursting with fabulous fruit, yet over all that goodly land
silence, vast and awful, brooded like
chaos. No hum of factories smote the air,
no song of harvesters cheered the traveler.
The "early and latter" rain falls ln abundance spring and fall, and with the approach of pleasant weather men and
women hasten to the fields.
THE PRINCIPAL IMPLEMENTS
are the rough pruning shears, which the
man carries, an immense, rough Iron hoe,
of not less than 20 pounds weight, is for
the women to take to the field, and as she
bends under its load, moaas frequently
issue from her lips, and strangely enough
the;words are a cry to "BozlaMere,"(Klnd
God). The husband, with the inevitable
pipe in his mouth preserves a calm demeanor, no burden rests on his shoulders.
Tho vineyards may be miles away, and
the upper row of vines well *p the ridge,
but the poor woman stiuggles on. The
soil is soft and rich and merely the surface is stirred. The vines are pruned low,
and are supported upon stakes about four
feet high, and wide enough apart to give
snnshine and air to all parts of the fruit.
No sting or mildew taint the rich flavor of
this fruit. The clusters of pink, white and
purple grapes, full, plump and luscious
hang from these sun kissed vines, and
whon you catch a glimpse of their dewy
richness amid the green leaves you are
ready to believe the Bible story of the
clusters found near Esohol by the spies.
While the leaves are young and tender a
delightful dish is prepared by wrapping
in a leaf a mixture, in equal quantities of
rice and minced lamb meat, stewing gently in an earthernware vessel, then serving
hot,plentlfully seasoned with lemon juice.
In making pickles every cucumbor is
wrapped in a grape leaf, before putting in
brine. The vintage comes ln September,
bnt the grapes cannot be gathered until an
edict has been issued by the Sultan, and
with much formality finds its way from
one officer to another, until the peasant
learns that he may gather his crop. But
woe betide the poor toilers, if his majesty
is engrossed with state affairs, or is on a
spree, or is calling upon one of his 400
wives, and the September rains set In.
Then the grapes must rot on their stems.
If all Is well and his highness in an indulgent mood, the entire population sallies
forth to gather in tbe fruit. Wagons of
immense size, bigger than our Stude-
bakers, are heaped high with grapes, tbe
brawny men,most awfully dirty—remove
their sandals, roll their flowing trousers
to the thighs, and literally
TREAD THE WINE PRESS.
The ruddy juice pours out in thick
streams, is caught in casks, and stored
away to ferment to make the sort of wine
Kate Field recommends. The women
gather up the refuse rotten mass, and by a
secret process distil the fiery raki, as a
supplement to the curse of drinking the
native wines, which will make a man just
as drank as American rum, but will not
kill him quite so quick, because unadulterated. Fruits are abundant. Peaches,
plums, aprioots, pomegranates and melons of enormous size are sold at a price
that would bankrupt an American farmer.
THE IMPLEMENTS FOR FARMING
are exceedingly crude. A plow of
rough pieces of wood, bearing a very faint
resemblance to ours in general outline,
but may have a blunt piece of iron or not,
with which the earth is merely scratched.
Yet no where do we find such wheat as
the Mediterranean^ such rice as is grown
in that country. The national dish, "Pe-
laff," cannot be successfully made from
the rice used in America. The wheat is
often used as an article of diet, and is prepared for use by soaking in water, until
the hull will slip off, it is then dried and
winnowed, after which it Is stewed until
tender, then seasoned richly with raisins
and cinnamon. This is food fit for the
gods. Standing by a fig tree in the early
autumn in the morning sunshine, while
the dew is still lingering on their puiple
face equals the "Zhetnos" of wheat. Sheep,
goats and buffalo thrive in Europaan Turkey. The cows are inferior, and pwkis
loathsome. Spit upon by the Turks, and
despised by the Jews.only Christians have
the grace to partake of their carcases as
food. The milk of the Buffalo is far superior to ourfinest Jersey fluid.and although
the milk of the buffalo is not strictly a
farm production, by a process of reason
oningone might claim that grass is the
hidden resource of the buffalo in storing
uptheflnid. The national dish of years
is made from this milk by first evaporating over a fire, then adding a mere touch
of rennet, af ter which it must be placed
in a box of heated bran, where it soon becomes a thick rich cream, free from whey,
and eaten with the native coarse black
bread is very delicious.   The
BEST SPECIMEN OF VEHICLE
is a covered wagon, without seats or
springs. The ordinary farm wagon would
be called a cart in this country,only theirs
is without tires to the thick clumsy wheels,
and they literally groan as they slowly
wind over the plains, often drawn by a
team of a comically small donkey and a
thin, meek cow yoked together. With
great natural advantages ot rich soil, delightful climate and  rolling plains, yet
over all the fair land broods a silence that
is most depressing, a degradation and ignorance of the inhabitants perfectly appalling. We might for a moment consider
the cause, question the possibility of a
remedy, and suggest a moral. In ancient
days it was said, "all roads led to Rome."
With me all moral questions travel by
way of Christianity. After the triumphs
and glory of the Roman world there was
a backward step. The citizens or freemen
were er gaged in war, and the cultivation
of the soil was left
IN THE HANDS   OF THE   SLAVES OR   SERFS.
This Is now the custom in Russia and
Turkey. Wherever this mistaken policy
exists general and lasting prosperity is
not possible. If ever the ores and precious
metals are exhumed from the mountains
and hills of Europe; if ever the vast
plains shall blossom as tbe rose; if ever
the iron horse shall plunge through the
magnificent distances of the vast solitudes
in those distant lands, it will be when
Christianity and civilization shall join
hands in the undertaking. When European Turkey receives the touch of true religion, the vast silence will smile with
plenty. The band of missionaries sailed
In a ship laden with New England rum.
Plows and pruning hooks in the hands of
Christian agriculturists would yield a
richer harvest, untainted with corses,
| than ever will be bestowed by tho liquor
traffli. I do not dream a plan unthought
of, when I fanoy I see that lovely heritage redeemed from the curse of ignorance, drunkenness and oppression. Civilization alone will not develop the agricultural resources of Europe or any other
land, as has been proven by past experience.
Christianity will repudiate the vices,
and nurture thehighest and best resources
of the people under the waning crescent
of the false Prophet and rebuild the waste
places. Gnided by her hand, civilization
shall touch into new beauty the now desolate region. The keynote of success shall
be sounded in every land, when true
righteousness shall exalt the nations of
the earth.
Miami County Farmers.
Editors Indiana Farmer:
The Farmers' Association of Miami
County held an interesting meeting at
Peru on the 20 Ji inst. Thoy appointed a
committee to investigate the question of
securing fair grounds, and if it can be
done they propose establishihing a new
fair association. The most important
feature of the meeting was a discussion of
the twine trust. Oa suggestion of the
Peru Board of Trade it was decided to
raise 300 acres of flax this season and to
establish a fl»x mill and make their own
twine. It is proposed to erect the mill at
once. This association has rented rooms
in a business block in Peru, whore they
will hold meetings, and locate a reading
room, secretary's office and an exhibition
room for display of fair products.
C. A K.
« ♦  ■	
Glbaon Oounty   F. M. B   A.
Editors Indiana Farmer.
There is a farmers' organization in this
part of the State comprising six counties
that is growing very fast. It is known as
the Farmers Mutual Benefit' Association.
This county is well organized having
about 3,000 members, tbe order in this
county will buy 100,000 pounds of binder
twine this year, if they can get it at reasonable prices, if not they will binl with
straw. Other counties will buy twine
also. AU counties will buy together if
they get prices that are reasonable."
J. D. Thompson.
0*venBvllle Ind.
Destructive forest fires are raging near
Danville, Va. Oaehundred families have
beea rendered homeless, and much stock
destroyed.