…good pasture, and cheap salt made for moderately successful farming… ~ of troy

At first thought, salt and successful farming seem like an odd mix, though I know the UK has the same situation in Cheshire. Of course, in Cheshire at least, the salt is a longish way down and has to be mined.

“Revolutionary vets” - that conjured up a weird picture at first until all became clear. In the UK the abbreviation ‘vet’ is generally (exclusively?) used for veterinary surgeon.