"Agricolae" is the name the South of England Agricultural Society has given to British farmers who have taken part in their "Eurolink" exchange scheme with farmers in mainland Europe. These farmers, plus other who have joined them, belong to what we call the "Eurolink Agricolae Club", now extended into a network. Many have wondered why we have have chosen a word that seems strange to English ears. The answer lies in the origin of this interesting word.
The word "agricola" (the singular of agricolae) comes from the Latin "ager" - field and "colo" - cultivate and is the derivative of "agriculture", the science and art of producing plants and animals useful to man. Even before Roman times, hunting was not only the way of obtaining sustenance. As recorded and revealed in Latin works of Virgil and others, herds of beasts were reared and driven as required to suitable pasturage and crops were grown on patches of ground until the soil became exhausted. Man later discovered manures and the value of rotation of crops. Other branches of what we now embrace in the overall term "agriculture" were gradually developed, such as fruit growing and bee keeping and many others. After the decline of the Roman Empire, there continued to evolve this gradual development of agriculture and improvement of methods in stock breeding and tillage and all its ramifications throughout Europe.
What better name can describe the aims of the original Eurolink exchange scheme and the evolvement of a "club" or dedicated group of farmers wishing to impart, acquire and implement knowledge of the latest farming techniques?
"Agricolae" has now become a kind of trademark associated with Eurolink and the South of England Agricultural Society at Ardingly - a name and an enterprise of which we are justly proud.
A. M. Woodhead
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