The relations of China [1] tell us of the ceremony of opening the land, [2] which the emperor performsd every year. The idea was to incite the people to plow by this public and solemn act. [3]

Furthermore, the emperor is informed every year of the plowman who has the most distinguished himself in his occupation, and makes him a mandarin of the eighth order.

Among the ancient Persians, [4] on the eighth day of the month named Chorem-ruz, the kings would set aside their magnificence to eat with the plowmen. These institutions are admirable for the encouragement of agriculture.