Pennsylvania Agriculture History

Growing Millet for Hay and Grain for Bread (1822)	Giant Radishes (1822)
A New Method of Heading Cabbages in the Winter (1822)	Manufacture of Castor Oil (1823)
Cheat, Naked Barley, Field Pea, Grape and Other Vines (1823)	First Exibition of the Pennsylvania Agricultural Society (1823)
Preserving Apples (1823)	Horse Ointment (1823)

Growing Millet for Hay and Grain for Bread

Gettysburg Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
October 9, 1822 Page 4

An article on the subject of Miller in the Watchman of the 6th inst., being in some particulars erroneous, we have been furnished by Mr. William Warner, with the following correct statement of facts. As we conceive it to be a very interesting subject, we think the editors of newspapers would subserve the farming interest generally by giving it as wide spread a circulation as possible - and every farmer who receives a paper containing the article, ought to preserve the same, in order to try the experiment.

Wilmington Watchman.

On the 5th of May last, I sowed half a bushel of Millet seed on an acre and one quarter of ground, which I had manured for the purpose. About the 28th of July following, when the heads were yellow and the stalks and blades green, I had it cut. It produced three tons of hay which my horses east with as much avidity as they would the best upland. It yielded 30 ½ bushels of clean seed, exclusive of what was left in the sheaves, weighing 49 ½ pounds per bushel.

When manufactured into flour it makes a cake equally palatable as buck wheat, and I believe more whole wholesome. By not mowing it till the seeds are ripe, all the advantages derivable from the seed will accrue to the farmer, and the hay will be equally good if not better than if cut earlier. I think I sowed mine rather too thin. I am informed, and from the experiment I made, I believe correctly, that it will produce more and better both hay and grain if 3 pecks or one bushel of seed be sown to the acre, according to the quality or strength of the ground. This crop has a great advantage over most others. It is sown and gathered at a time when it does not interfere with other work. My crop was cradles, shocked and bound, and same as wheat. It remained about five days in shock, and was thrashed in one day by two men, as it was hauled into the barn, so easy is it to thrash."

William Warner
Wilmington, Sept. 11, 1822

Giant Radishes

Gettysburg Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
October 9, 1822 Page 4

Horticulture

Large Radish - The garden of Walter B. Hudson, Esq., in Shirleysburg, has this year produced an abundance of Radishes of great magnitude. One was taken up indiscriminately from the bed and measured in length eighteen inches, its circumference, twenty-two and one half inches, and its least, thirteen inches. This species of Radish is solid and red to the heart. In the same garden, Beets are not growing, of which a great number measure twenty-two inches in circumference. - Huntingdon Advocate.

A New Method of Heading Cabbages in the Winter

Gettysburg Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
Wednesday, October 23, 1822 Page 1

Last fall, at the usual time of taking in Cabbages, I had a number well grown, but which had no appearance of a head. I dug a trench on the southern declivity of a hill, about 18 inches wide and 20 or 22 inches deep, and took 86 cabbages of the above description, and set them out in the bottom of the trench, in their natural position, with the roots well covered with sand: I then filled the trench with straw on each side of the cabbages and laid straw over the tops of them to prevent the sand from getting in, then placed a rail over the middle of the trench to prevent any pressure on the cabbages, and completed the work by throwing on more straw and forming a ridge of sand over the whole to keep out frost and water. In the latter part of March I opened the trench and took out the cabbages, and found each one with a common sized head, white, solid and well tasted.

Manufacture of Castor Oil

Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
January 29 1823 Page 2

From the American Farmer

Mr. Skinner,

Having seen several inquiries in your valuable paper, concerning the manner of making Cold Pressed Castor Oil, to which no answer has been given, I am induced to make the following communication.

The direction of the Edinburgh Dispensatory, is to deprive the seed of their shell, (which must be useless) bruise them, put them into a hempen bag and express the oil by means of a cold press, in the same manner as linseed oil.

Not having seen an oil press, I am unable to direct how it should be constructed but suppose it very simple.

Why there should be so great a preference given to the cold pressed oil, I do not know. Many families in my neighborhood, prepare it, for their own use, by decoction, - and, on comparison, I have found it no more nauseous than the other. I have seen it two years old, without having become at all rancid, and the bottom of the bottle entirely clear from that cloudiness, which is observable in cold pressed oil of the same age.

To make it - bruise the seed, inclose them in a coarse bag, put his in a pot of water, and boil as long as any oil arises, which must be skimmed off and put into another pot, placed conveniently, to which apply a moderate heat, to evaporate the water taken off along with it, taking care not to overheat the oil, which may easily happen after all the water has been evaporated.

It is said the seed afford one fourth their weight of oil - if so, their culture must be very profitable at the present price of the article. Its value must depreciate very much, when its domestic preparation becomes more common, and this is only prevented by the unjust preference given the cold pressed oil, which cannot be so conveniently made in every family.

When the seed are freed from the shell and white skin, that covers them, and made into an amulsin, they operate in the same dose, as mildly and effectually as the oil. For every purpose, the fresh seed only should be used - those which are old are acrid, and unpleasant in their operation.

If you think these remarks would do any benefit to the public, you can publish them - tough I should be very glad if the necessity could be done away, by the subject being taken up by some one better able to do it justice.

Yours, & c.

F. - Charlotee Co., Va., Dec. 10

Cheat, Naked Barley, Field Pea, Grape and Other Vines

The Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, PA)

27 Aug 1823 Page 4

From the American Farmer

Washington, Pa., July 19, 1833

In this part of Pennsylvania, our crops, considered collectively are unusually fine. Altho' many fields of wheat were destroyed by the fly, such as escaped turn out well. It may be set down at about one fourth under an average crop. The rye may be set down at about as much above. We have not had so fine a prospect of corn for many years. Oats remarkably heavy. Grass nearly double last year's crop. The season has been uncommonly well. More rain has fallen during the last four weeks than fell the whole of the last two summers. (?)ats has produced a plentiful crop of cheat; if your friend "Plain Sense" were here, I could show him plenty in my timothy meadow, where cheat never grew. This upsets his first "premises."

One of my clover fields, where there has been neither wheat or cheat for several years, is now oat-lined cheat. A large portion of another of my clover fields is thickly set with a very troublesome article, commonly known here by the name of rag-weed. Now if "Plain Sense" will explain to me how this rag-weed got into my field, I will explain to him how the cheat got into his, without being oblidged to resort to transmutation.

I am clearly of the opinion that the cheat and the rag-weed are both produced precisely in the same way. I believe the seed was in the ground and the open and the changeable winter froze out my clover roots, and the Hessian Fly, or some other enemy, destroyed "Plain Sense's" wheat; and this furnished an opportunity for these pests to spring up. Let me here remark that nature will not be idle; and it becomes our place to keep her usefully employed, by furnishing the earth such seeds and plants as will produce the greatest quantity of wholesome and nutritious food for man and beast. I would ask the advocates fro transinutation if any of them ever saw a stalk of cheat and a stalk of wheat grow from the same root? I have frequently examined and never found this the case. I have inquired of many others and have uniformly been answered in the negative. It is somewhat singular, that the change should be always so complete, as to leave no traces or appearance of the wheat, in any of the numerous stalks that frequently grown from the same grain. I would further inform "Plain Sense," that I have frequently seen rye put in on wheat stubble, and no cheat made its appearance. I am lead to believe that the mistaken opinion that wheat actually change to cheat, arises from the circumstance of wheat being a crop more liable to failure than any other we cultivate, and thus more frequently leaves room for the cheat to take its place.

The naked barley and field pea you were so good as to send me, both turn out finely. The pea, I think, will be as suitable for the garden as the field. The Egyptian millet does not promise well. It is not now more than half the size of the common kind, and no appearance of its going to seed. I am lead to think it requires a warmer climate than ours.

I am pleased to inform you that the method recommended in the Farmer of planting the grape cuting, entirely under the ground has succeeded with me extremely well. A greater number than usual grew, and the shoots came up unusually strong. I also adopted the plan of prtecting my cucumber and melon vines by boxes covered with Millinett. I think it will answer an excellent purpose. We did not lose a single vine, whilst those of most of our neighbors were entirely destroyed by the striped bug.

I am very sincerely yours, & c.

First Exibition of the Pennsylvania Agricultural Society (1823)

Taken From The Republican Compiler 19 Nov 1823 Page 2

Reprinted From the Village Record, Oct. 29.

Agricultural Exhibition and Cattle Show

The first exhibition by the Pennsylvania Agricultural Society was held on the 22d, 23d, and 24th of October, instant, at the Paoli, Chester county.

The days were remarkably fine, and a great number of people, principally farmers, from this and the neighboring counties, were convened on the occasion. Many animals distinguished for the excellence of their origin and beautiful of their kind were brought together. Elegant Arabian horses from Africa; fine imported specimens of the best English stock of cattle, for the dairy and for fatting, with their offsprings; sheep of the Tunisian, Spanish and best English blood, and a variety of superior American animals of several kinds, rendered it a desirable place to vist, by the naturalist and the man of liberal curiosity, as well as the practical farmer. Without such an exhibition, a whole life might pass without the opportunity of seeing all these varieties of superior animals.

The first day I was not present. The second, I came in sight of the Paoli about noon, and the scene I must say, was one of great life and beauty. Several thousands of persons were collected, and spread over the fields in groups, sometimes of hundreds. In a large field on the left, were pens of different animals, numerous instances of agriculture; the stage from which the address was to be delivered; several pair of horses were in motion, trying new-fashioned ploughs, miles, cultivators and drills; each one attracting a number to witness their operation. In the smooth part of the field, two elegant Arabian horses, Bashaw and Grand Sultan, were moving with all the sprightliness and grace from which they are renowned; and contrasted with their light forms were to be seen the powerful Pennsylvania draught horses of the Lion strain. In several fields on the right were herds of the very best selections, both English and American, belonging to Mr. Sheaff, Mr. Powell, and other; and what to me is always a pleasing sight, an air of good humor and cheerfulness was everywhere prevalent.

On the last day the address was delivered; the ploughing matches performed; and the premiums awarded. The address was delivered by Jonathan Roberts, Esq., president of the society, to a vast concourse of people; among whom were a large number of ladies, who graced the exhibition with their presence, and for whom seats had been prepared in front of the stage. The address was sensible, pertinent, and given in handsome style. The ploughing contests were interesting. Four pieces of land, each an eighth of an acre, had been previously measured off for each plough. Four teams, each a pair of horses, entered for the premium. The contest was spirited, and excited a great deal of interest. The difference in the time of finishing the work was trifling; the quickest performing in 19 minutes; the slowest being only 20 minutes. The premium was awarded to Peter Luce, and in truth he contested the point with a spirit worthy of his name. Next came on the ploughing with oxen, the same quantity of land being laid off for each team, which consisted of one yoke only, and without any other driver than the man who held the plough. The time of accomplishing the work was about 25 minutes. I confess, to me, there was something exhilarating and pleasant in these peaceful contests for superiority.

To Preserve Apples

Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
December 10, 1823 Page 3

Dry a glazed jar perfectly well; put a few pebbles in the bottom; fill the jar with apples, and cover it with a bit of wood made to fit exactly; and over that put a little fresh mortar. The pebbles attract the dampness of the apples; the mortar draws the air from the jar, and leaves the apples free from its pressure, which, together with the principle of putrefaction, which the air contains are the causes of decay. Apples thus kept, have been found quite sound, fair and juicy, in July.

Horse Ointment

Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) December 17, 1823 Page 1

Into a clean pipkin (A small earthenware or metal cooking pot.), that holds about a quart, put the bigness of a pullet's egg of yellow rosin (a solid form of resin obtained from pines and some other plants, mostly conifers, produced by heating fresh liquid resin to vaporize the volatile liquid. It is semi-transparent and varies in color from yellow to black.); when it is melted, put in half a pound of hog's lard; when it is dissolved, put in half a pound of common turpentine - keep it gently boiling, and stirring with a stick all the time. When the turpentine is dissolved, put in two ounces of verdigrease (the common name for the chemical copper(II) acetate), you must take off the pipkin, (else it will rise into the fire in a moment,) set it on again, and give it two or three stirrings, then strain it through a coarse sieve into a clean vessel for use, throw away the dregs.

This is an extraordinary ointment for a wound or bruise in flesh, or hoof, broken knees, galled backs, bites, cracked heels, mallenders, or when you cut a horse, to heal and keep flies away; nothing takes fire out of burn or scald so soon. -American Farmer.

Mice (it is said) have such antipathy for mint that they will not touch any thing that savors of it. Cheese, grain, or any other articles kept in store, and often injured by mice, may be secured from these destructive vermin, by strewing a few mint leaves, green or dry, on the article to be preserved.

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