Harvesting Silage

Harvesting Silage

The Oxford English Dictionary describes Agriculture : agri cultura, Latin tillage of the land; the science and art of cultivating the soil; including the allied pursuits of gathering in the crops and rearing livestock; tillage, husbandry, farming (in the widest sense). The Dictionary notes usage of the term from 1603, and embellishes the entry with Samuel Johnson's (The Rambler Tuesday 17 March 1750): If we estimate dignity by immediate usefulness, agriculture is undoubtedly the first and noblest science.

Today, in blustery sunshine, I joined the silage harvest. My task was to pilot giant tractors and trailers across a busy railway line with guidance and permission from the nearest signal staff. There were almost two dozen crossings performed with meticulous safety, and my grateful admiration for the signal staff's help, and expertise.

The technical aspects of the harvest are a wonder. My thoughts dwelt on the science and art of cultivating. Great flocks of birds took part in the drama: a rare sociology, an ordered hierarchy of avian gleaner: kites, gulls, rooks, raven, swallow, blackbird. How many harvests have perfected this lyrical choreography of Nature?

The wind and bright sun soon turned the denuded pasture a gold ochre. High rain clouds, leaden and billowing, were blown speedily above and beyond the harvesters.

The Way of Scent is to experience the world directly, without words. So observed Sudo, PT in Zen Sex 2000.

Harvested silage cut, briskly turned, gathered, chopped and sprayed into the vast trailers: a stream of deepest malachite, the shorn and exposed pasture, all exuded a medley of scent indescribable!

And gulls wheeled hypnotically in the Sussex sky, like Dervish Sufi...

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, in his Lectio Magistralis, observed Faith is transmitted through Culture.

Acknowledgements

Oxford English Dictionary (Thanks to West Sussex Libraries' Access for Readers)
Network Rail Signal Staff for their expertise and help, and Network Rail for its commendable safety and infrastructure at the rural railway crossing

Sudo, PT Zen Sex 2000 p 101

Vatican News Honoris Causa for HE Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone