Summit County, Ohio - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 11 of those read), 1881

Pomological And Horticultural Societies

AGRICULTURE - AREA OF THE STATE - EARLY AGRICULTURE IN THE WEST - MARKETS - LIVE STOCK - NURSERIES, FRUITS, ETC. - CEREALS - ROOT AND CUCURBITACEOUS CROPS - AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS - AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES - POMOLOGICAL AND HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES.

farmers, hence a resvme of agriculture in the | State, would not only be appropriate, but valuable as a matter of history. It is the true basis of national prosperity, and, therefore, justly occupies a foremost place.

this date, the admission of the Territory into the Union as a State began to be agitated. When the census was made to ascertain the legality of the act, in conformity to the "Compact of 1787," no endeavor was made to ascertain additional statistics, as now; hence, the cultivated land was not returned, and no account remains to tell how much existed. In 1805, three years after the admission of the State into the Union, 7,252,856 ernment amounted to 9,933,150 acres, of which amount, however, 3,569,314 acres, or more than one-third, was held by non-residents. Of the lands occupied by resident land-owners, there appear to | have been 100,968 acres of first-rate, 1,929,600 | of second, and 1,538,745 acres of third rate lands. | At this period there were very few exports from | the farm, loom or shop. The people still needed all they produced to sustain themselves, and were yet in that pioneer period where they were obliged | to produce all they wanted, and yet were opening new farms, and bringing the old ones to a productive state.

Kentucky, and the country on the Monongahela, lying along the western slopes of the Alleghany Mountains, having been much longer settled, had begun, as early as 1795, tosend considerable quan- | tities of flour, whisky, bacon and tobacco to the lower towns on the Mississippi, at that time in the possession of the Spaniards. At the French settlements on the Lllinois, and at Detroit, were being raised much more than could be used, and these were exporting also large quantities of these materials, as well as peltries and such commodities as their nomadic lives furnished. As the Mississippi was the natural outlet of the West, any attempt to impede its free navigation by the various powers at times controlling 'its outlet, would lead at once to violent outbreaks among the Western settlers, some of whom were aided by unscrupulous persons, who thought to form an independent Western country. Providence seems to have had a watchful eye over all these events, and to have so guided them that the attempts with such objects in view, invariably ended in disgrace to their perpetrators. This outlet to the West was thought to be the only one that could carry their produce to market, for none of the Westerners then dreamed of the immense system of railways now covering that part of the Union. As soon as ship-building commenced at Marietta, in the year 1800, the farmers along the borders of the Ohio and Muskingum Rivers turned their attention to the cultivation of hemp, in addition totheirothercrops. Ina few years sufficient was raised, not only to furnish cordage to the ships in the West, but large quantities were worked up in the various rope-walks and sent to the Atlantic cities. Iron had been discovered, and forges on the Juniata were busy converting that necessary and valued material into implements of industry.

citizens of Marietta. Their construction gave a fresh impetus to agriculture, as by means of them the surplus products could be carried away to a foreign market, where, if it did not bring money, it could be exchanged for merchandise equally valuable. Captain David Devoll was one of the earliest of Ohio's shipwrights. He settled on the fertile Muskingum bottom, about five miles above Marietta, soon after the Indian war. Here he built a "floating mill," for making flour, and, in 1801, a ship of two hundred and fifty tons, called the Muskingum, and the brig Eliza Greene, of one hundred and fifty tons. In 1804, he built a schooner on his own account, and in the spring | of the next year, it was finished and loaded fora | voyage downthe Mississippi. It was small, only of | seventy tons burden, of a light draft, and intended torun on the lakes east of New Orleans. In | shapeand model, it fully sustained itsname. Nonpa- | reil. Its complement of sails, small at first, was | completed when it arrived in New Orleans. It had a large cabin to accommodate passengers, was well and finely painted, and sat gracefully on the | water. very wellthe nature of exports of the day.

Its load was of assorted articles, and shows | It consisted of two hundred barrels of flour, fifty barrels of kiln-dried corn meal, four thousand pounds of cheese, six thousand of bacon, one hundred sets of rum puncheon shooks, and a few grindstones. The flour and meal were made at Captain Devoll's floating mill, and the cheese made in Belpre, at that | date oneof Ohio's most flourishing agricultural districts. The Captain and others carried on boating as well asthe circumstances of the days permitted, fearing only the hostility of the Indians, and the duty the Spaniards were liable to levy on boats going down to New Orleans, even if they did not take it into their erratic heads to stop the entire navigation of the great river by vessels other than their own. By such means, merchandise was carried on almost entirely until the construction of | canals, and even then, until modern times, the flat-boat was the main-stay of the shipper inhabiting the country adjoining the upper Ohio and Mississippi Rivers.

what was necessary for the use of the family and to perform the labor on the farm. The Scioto Valley was perhaps the only exception in Ohio to this general condition. Horses were brought by the emigrants from the Kast and were characteristic of that region. In the French settlements in JIlinois and about Detroit, French ponies, marvels of endurance, were chiefly used. They were impracticable in hauling the immense emigrant wagons over the mountains, and hence were comparatively unknown in Ohio. Until 1828, draft horses were chiefly used here, the best strains being brought by the "Tunkers," "Mennonites," and '"'Ormish,'' - three religious sects, whose members were invariably agriculturists. In Stark, Wayne, Holmes, and Richland Counties, as a general thing, they congregated in communities, where the neatness of their farms, the excellent condition of their stock, and the primitive simplicity of their manners, made them conspicuous.

In 1828, the French began to settle in Stark County, where they introduced the stock of horses known as "Selim," "Florizel,' "Post Boy" and "Timolen." These, crossed upon the descents of the Norman and Conestoga, produced an excellent stock of farm horses, now largely used.

In the Western Reserve, blooded horses were introduced as early as 1825. John I. Van Meter broughe fine horses into the Scioto Valley in 1815, or thereabouts. Soon after, fine horses were brought to Steubenville from Virginia and Pennsylvania. In Northern Ohio the stock was more miscellaneous, until the introduction of improved breeds from 1815 to 1835. By the latter date the strains of horses had greatly improved. The same could be said of other parts of the State. Until after 1825, only farm and road horses were reauired. That year a race-course - the first in the State - was established in Cincinnati, shortly followed by others at Chillicothe, Dayton and Hamilton. From that date the race-horse steadily improved. Until 1838, however, all race-courses were rather irregular, and, of those named, it is difficult to determine which one has priority of date over the others. To Cincinnati, the precedence is, however, generally given. In 1838, the Buckeye Course was established in Cincinnati, and before a year had elapsed, it is stated, there were fifteen regular race-courses in* Ohio. The effect of these courses was to greatly stimulate the stock of racers, and rather detract from draft and road horses. The organization of companies to import blooded horses has again revived the interest ix this class, and now, at annual stock sales, these strains of horses are eagerly sought after by those having occasion to use them.

Cattle were brought over the mountains, and, for several years, were kept entirely for domestic uses. By 1805, the country had so far settled fodder, and a drove was driven to Baltimore. The drove was owned by George Renick, of Chillicothe, and the feat was looked upon as one of great importance. The drove arrived in Baltimore in excellent condition. The impetus given by this movement of Mr. Renick stimulated greatly the feeding of cattle, and led to the improvement of the breed, heretofore only of an ordinary kind.

Until the advent of railroads and the shipment of cattle thereon, the number of cattle driven to eastern markets from Ohio alone, was estimated at over fifteen thousand annually, whose value was placed at $600,000. Besides this, large numbers were driven from Indiana and Illinois, whose boundless prairies gave free scope to the herding of eattle. Improved breeds, "Short Horns," " Long Horns" and others, were introduced into Ohio as early as 1810 and 1815. Since then the stock has been gradually improved and acclimated, until now Ohio produces as fine cattle as any State in the Union. In some localities, especially in the Western Reserve, cheesemaking and dairy interests are the chief occupations of whole neighborhoods, where may be found men who have grown wealthy in this business.

Sheep were kept by almost every family, in pioneer times, in order to be supplied with wool for clothing. The wool was carded by hand, spun in the cabin, and frequently dyed and woven as well as shaped into garments there, too. All emigrants brought the best household and farming implements their limited means would allow, so also did they bring the best strains of horses, cattle and sheep they could obtain. About the year 1809, Mr. Thomas Rotch, a Quaker, emigrated to Stark County, and brought with him a small flock of Merino sheep. They were good, and a part of them were from the original flock brought over from Spain, in 1801, by Col. Humphrey, United States Minister to that country. He had brought every part of the United States stocked with Merinos. In this he partially succeeded only, owing to the prejudice against them. In 1816, Messrs. Wells & Dickenson, who were, for the day, extensive woolen manufacturers in Steubenville, drove their fine flocks out on the Stark County Plains for the summer, and brought them back for the winter. This course was pursued for several years, until farms were prepared, when they were permanently kept in Stark County. This flock was

He had a sort of partnership agency from Gen. | Humphrey for keeping and selling them. They | were scattered, and, had they been taken care of | | as well as throughout Southeastern Ohio.

and appreciated, would have laid a better foundation of flocks in Ohio than any sheep brought into it from that time till 1852. at which Adams brought them cannot now be ascertained; but it was prior to 1813, perhaps as | i the old orchard is yet to be seen, though the trees early as 1804." "The first Southdowns," continues Mr. Humrickhouse," " New Leicester, Lincolnshire and Cots- | wold sheep I ever saw, were brought into Coshocton | County from England by Isaac Maynard, nephew . of the famous Sir John, in 1834. There were | other kinds. He was offered $500 for his Lin- ' colnshire ram, in Buffalo, as he passed through, , but refused. He was selfish, and unwilling to put : steady tread with the growth of the State, and now Qhio wool is known the world over. In quantity it is equal to any State in America, while its quality is unequaled.

from the beech mast and other nuts in the woods, degenerated into a wild condition, almost akin to their originators. As the country settled, however, and guarding were made, and now the hog of today shows what improvement and civilization can do for any wild animal. The chief city of the State has become famous as a slaughtering place; her bacon and sides being known in all the civilized world.

Of Ohio

Other domestic animals, mules, asses, etc., have been brought to the State as occasion required. Wherever their use has been demanded, they have been obtained, until the State has her complement

Most of the early emigrants brought with them young fruit trees or grafts of some favorite variety from the "old homestead." Hence, on the Western Reserve are to be found chiefly - especially in localities immediately south of the Reserve, Pennsylvania and Maryland varieties predominate ; but at Marietta, New England fruits are again found, One of the oldest of these orchards was on a Mr. Dana's farm, near Cincinnati, on the Ohio River bank. It consisted of five acres, in which apple seeds and seedlings were planted as early as 1790. Part of are almost past their usefulness. Peaches, pears, cherries and apples were planted by all the pioneers in their gardens. As soon as the seed produced seedlings, these were transplanted to some hillside, and the orchard, in a few years, was a productive unit in the life of the settler. The first fruit brought, was, like everything else of the pioneers, rather inferior, and admitted of much cultivation. Soon steps were taken by the more enterprising Israel Putnam, as early as 1796, returned to the East, partly to get scions of the choicest apples, and, partly, on other business. He obtained quite a quantity of set them out. A portion of them were distributed to the settlers_who had trees, to ingraft. From these old grafts are yet to be traced some of Israel Putnam was one of the most prominent men in early Ohio days. He was always active in promoting the interests of the settlers. Among his earliest efforts, that of improving the fruit may well be mentioned. He

| and his brother, Aaron W. Putnam, living at Belthey were gathered from their lairs, and, by feed- | ing them corn, the farmers soon brought them out | Improved breeds | were introduced. The laws for their protection | pre, opposite Blennerhasset's Island, began the nursery business soon after their arrival in the West The apples brought by them from their Connecticut home were used to commence the business. These, and the apples obtained from trees planted in their gardens, gave them a beginning. They were the only two men in Ohio engaged in the business till 1817.

Appleseed." His real name was John Chapman. He received his name from his habit of planting, along all the streams in that part of the State, apple-seeds from which sprang many of the old orchards. He did this as a religious duty, thinking it to be his especial mission. He had, it is said, been disappointed in his youth in a love affair, and came West about 1800, and ever after followed his singular life. He was extensively known, was quite harmless, very patient, and did, without doubt, much good. He died in 1847, at the house of a Mr. Worth, near Fort Wayne, Indiana, who had long known him, and often befriended him. He was a minister in the Swedenborgian Church, and, in his own way, a zealous worker.

The settlers of the Western Reserve, coming from New England, chiefly from Connecticut, brought all varieties of fruit known in their old homes.

partly from the fact that the trees grown from | seeds did not always prove to be of the same quality as the seeds. Climate, soil and surroundings - introduce the pear to any extent. the most persistent and enthusiastic amateurs in horticulture and pomology in the West. the year 1810, Dr. Jared Kirtland, father of Prof. J. P. Kirtland, so favorably known among horticulturists and pomologists, came from advance fruit culture. About the year 1824, Prof. J. P. Kirtland, in connection with his brother, established a nursery at Poland, then in Trumbull County, and brought on from New England above a hundred of their best varieties of apples, cherries, peaches, pears, and smaller fruits, and a year or two after brought from New Jersey a hundred of the best varieties of that State; others were obtained in New York, so that they possessed the largest and most varied stock in the Western country. These two men gave a great impetus to fruit culture in the West, and did more than any others of that day to introduce improved kinds of all fruits in that part of the United States.

Another prominent man in this branch of industry was Mr. Andrew H. Ernst, of Cincinnati. Although not so early a settler as the Kirtlands, he was, like them, an ardent student and propa- | gator of fine fruits. He introduced more than six hundred varieties of apples and seven hundred of pears, both native and foreign. His | object was to test by actual experience the most valuable sorts for the diversified soil and climate of the Western country.

The name of Nicholas Longworth, also of Cincinnati, is one of the most extensively known of any in the science of horticulture and pomology. For more than fifty years he made these his especial delight. Having a large tract of land in the lower part of Cincinnati, he established nurseries, and planted and disseminated every variety of fruits that could be found in the United States - East or West - making occasional importations from European countries of such varieties as were thought to be adapted to the Western climate. His success has been variable, governed by the season, and in a measure by his numerous experiments. His vineyards, cultivated by tenants, generally Germans, on the European plan, during the latter years of his experience paid him a handsome revenue. He introduced the famous Catawba grape, the standard grape of the West. It is stated that Mr. Longworth bears the same relation to vineyardculture that Fulton did to steam navigation. Others made earlier effort, but he was the - first to establish it: a permanent basis. He has also been eminently successful in the cultivation of the strawberry, and was the first to firmly establish it on Western soil. He also brought the Ohio Everbearing Raspberry into notice in the State, and widely disseminated it throughout the country.

In chronology and importance, of all the cereals, corn stands foremost. During the early pioneer period, it was the staple article of food for both man and beast. It could be made into a variety of forms of food, and as such was not only palatable but highly nutritious and strengthening.

It is very difficult to determine whether corn originated in America or in the Old World. Many prominent botanists assert it is a native of Turkey, and originally was known as "Turkey wheat." Still others claimed to have found mention of maize in Chinese writings antedating the Turkish discovery. Grains of maize were found in an Evyptian mummy, which goes to prove to many the cereal was known in Africa since the earliest times. Maize was found in America when first visited by white men, but of its origin Indians could give no account. It had always been known among them, and constituted their chief article of vegetable diet. It was cultivated exclusively by their squaws, the men considering it beneath their dignity to engage in any manual labor. It is altogether probable corn introduced it into Europe. How it was introduced into America will, in all probability, remain unknown. It may have been an indigenous plant, like many others. Its introduction into Ohio dates with the settlement of the whites, especially its cultivation and use as an article of trade. True, the Indians had cultivated it in small quantities ; each lodge a little for itself, but no effort to make of it a national support began until the civilization of the white race became established. From that time on, the increase in crops has grown with the State, and, excepting the great corn States of the West, Ohio produces an amount equal to any State in the Union. The statistical tables printed in agricultural reports show the acres planted, and bushels grown. Figures speak an unanswerable logic.

Wheat is probably the next in importance of the cereals in the State. Its origin. like corn, is lost in the mists of antiquity. Its berry was no doubt used as food by the ancients for ages anterior to | any historical records. It is often called corn in old writings, and under that name is frequently mentioned in the Bible.

and, with corn, aside from animal food, has formed one of the chief alimentary articles of all nations ; but as the wheat plant has nowhere been found wild, or in a state of nature, the inference has been drawn by men of unquestioned scientific ability, that the original plant from which wheat has been derived was either totally annihilated, or else cultivation has wrought so great a change, that the original is by no means obvious, or manifest to botanists."" :

It is supposed by many, wheat originated in Persia. Others affirm it was known and cultivated in Egypt long ere it found its way into Persia. It was certainly grown on the Nile ages ago, and among the tombs are fuund grains of wheat in a perfectly sound condition. that unquestionably have been buried thousands of years. It may be, however, that wheat was grown in Persia first, and thence found its way into Egypt and Africa, or, vice versa. It grew first in Egypt and Africa and thence crossed into Persia, and from there found its way into India and all parts of Asia.

It is also claimed that wheat is indigenous to the island of Sicily, and that from there it spread along the shores of the Mediterranean into Asia Minor and Egypt. and, as communities advanced, it was cultivated, not only to a greater extent, but with greater success.

The goddess of agriculture, more especially of grains, who, by the Greeks, was called Demeter, and, by the Romans. Ceres - hence the name cereals - was said to have her home at Enna, a fertile region of that island, thus indicating the source from which the Greeks and Romans derived their Ceralia. Homer mentions wheat and spelt as bread; also corn and barley, and describes his heroes as using them as fodder for their horses, as the people in the South of Europe do at present. Rye was introduced into Greece from Thrace, or | by way of Thrace, in the time of Galen. In Czesar's time the Romans grew a species of wheat enveloped in a husk, like barley, and by them called '" Far."

Dr. Anson Hart, Superintendent, at one time, of Indian Affairs in Oregon, states that he found numerous patches of wheat and flax growing wild in the Yackemas country, in Upper Oregon. There is but little doubt that both cereals were introduced into Oregon at an early period by the Hudson Bay, or other fur companies. Wheat was also found by Dr. Boyle, of Columbus, Ohio, growing in a similar state in the Carson Valley. It was, doubtless, brought there by the early Spaniards. Tn 1530, one of Cortez's slaves found several grains of wheat accidentally mixed with the rice. The careful negro planted the handful of grains, and succeeding years saw a wheat crop in Mexico, which found its way northward, probably into California.

Turn where we may, wherever the foot of civilization has trod, there will we find this wheat plant, which, like a monument, has perpetuated the memory of the event; but nowhere do we find the plant wild. It is the result of cultivation in bygone ages, and has been produced by " progressive development."

It is beyond the limit and province of these pages to discuss the composition of this important cereal; only its historic properties can be noticed. With the advent of the white men in America, ucts of life.. It followed the pioneer over the Mountains westward, where, in the rich Mississippi and [llinois bottoms, it has been cultivated by the French since 1690. When the hardy New Englanders came to the alluvial lands adjoining the Ohio, Muskingum or Miami Rivers, they brought with them this "staff of life," and forthwith began its cultivation. Who sowed the first wheat in Ohio, is a question Mr. A. 8S. Guthrie

"My father, Thomas Guthrie, emigrated to the Northwest Territory in the year 1788, and arrived at the mouth of the Muskingum in July, about three months after Gen. Putnam had arrived with the first pioneers of Ohio. My father brought a bushel of wheat with him from one of the frontier counties of Pennsylvania, which he sowed on a lot of land in Marietta, which he cleared for that

Oats, rye, barley, and other grains were also brought to Ohio from the Atlantic Coast, though some of them kad been cultivated by the French in Illinois and about Detroit. They were at first used only as food for home consumption, and, until the successful attempts at river and canal navigation were brought about, but little was ever sent to market.

Of all the root crops known to man, the potato is probably the most valuable. Next to wheat, it is claimed by many as the staff of life. In some localities, this assumption is undoubtedly true. What would Ireland have done in her famines but for this simple vegetable? The potato is a native of the mountainous districts of tropical and subtropical America, probably from Chili to Mexico; but there is considerable difficulty in deciding where it is really indigenous, and where it has spread after being introduced by man. Humboldt, the learned savant, doubted if it had ever been found wild, but scholars no less famous, and of late date, have expressed an opposite In the wild plant, as in all others, the tubers are smaller than in the cultivated. The potato had been cultivated in America, and its tubers used for food, long before the advent of the Europeans. It seems to have been first brought to Europe by the Spaniards, from the neighborcentury, and spread through Spain, the Netherlands, Burgundy and Italy, cultivated in gardens as an ornament only and not for an article of food. It long received through European countries the same name with the batatas - sweet potato, which is the plant meant by all English writers down to the seventeenth century.

It appears that the potato was brought from Virginia to Ireland by Hawkins, a slave-trader, in 1565, and to England by Sir Francis Drake, twenty years later. It did not at first attract much notice, and not until it was a third time imported from America, in 1623, by Sir Walter Raleigh,

Ohio's growth, the crops of wheat have kept pace with the advance and growth of civilization. The soil is admirably adapted to the growth of this cereal, a large number of varieties being grown, and an excellent quality produced. It is firm in body, and, in many cases, is a successful rival of wheat

Poor people began using it, however, and finding it highly nutritious, the Royal Geographical Society, in 1663, adopted measures for its propagation. About this time it began to be used in Ireland as

The inhabitants of America learned its use from. the Indians, who cultivated it and other root crops - rutabagas, radishes, etc., and taught the whites their value. When the pioneers of Ohio came to its fertile valleys, they brought improved species with them, which by cultivation and soil, are now greatly increased, and are among the standard crops of the State.

The cucurbitaceous plants, squashes, etc., were, like the potato and similar root crops, indigenous to America - others, like the melons, to Asia - and were among the staple foods of the original inhabitants. The early French missionaries of the West speak of both root crops and cucurbitaceous plants as in useamong theaboriginal inhabitants. "They are very sweet and wholesome," wrote Marquette. Othersspeak in thesamcterms, though some of the plants in this order had found | their way to these valleys through the Spaniards and others through early Atlantic Coast and Mexican inhabitants. Their use by the settlers of the West, especially Ohio, is traced to New England, as the first settlers came from that portion of the Union. They grow well in all parts of the State, and by cultivation have been greatly improved in quality and variety. All cucurbitaceous plants require a rich, porous soil, and by proper attention to their cultivation, excellent results can be attained.

Probably the earliest and most important implement of husbandry known is the plow. Grain, plants and roots will not grow well unless the soil in which they are planted be properly stirred, hence the first requirement was an instrument that | would fulfill such conditions.

The first implements were rude indeed ; gener- | ally, stout wooden sticks, drawn through the earth by thongs attached to rude ox-yokes, or fastened to the animal's horns. Such plows were in use among the ancient Egyptians, and may yet be | found among uncivilized nations. The Old Testament fur " hes numerous instances of the use of the plow, while, on the ruins of ancient cities and | among the pyramids of Egypt, and on the buried walls of Babylon, and other extinct cities, are rude drawings of this useful implement. As the use of iron became apparent and general, it was util- .ized for plow-points, where the wood alone would not penetrate the earth. They got their plow- shares sharpened in Old Testament days, also - coulters, which shows, beyond a doubt, that iron- | pointed plows were then in use, From times | mentioned in the Bible, on heathen tombs, and | ancient catacombs, the improvement of the plow. | like other farming tools, went on, as the race of | man grew in intelligence. Extensive manors in | the old country required increased means of turning - the ground, and, to meet these demands. ingenious | mechanics, trom time to time, invented improved plows. Strange to say, however, no improvement | was ever made by the farmer himself. This is accounted for in his habits of life, and, too often. the disposition to "take things as they are.' When America was settled, the plow had become an implement capable of' turning two or three acres per day. Still, and for many years. and even until lately, the mold-board was entirely wooden, the point only iron. Later developments changed the wood for steel. which now alone is used. Still later, especially in prairie States. riding plows are used. Like ail other improvements. they were the ruralists. who surely combat almost every move made to better their condition. In many places in America, wooden plows, straight ax handles, and a stone in one end of the bag. to balance the grist in the other, are the rule. and for no

After the plow comes the harrow, but little changed, save in lightness and beauty. Formerly, a log of wood. or a brush harrow. supplied its place, but in the State of Ohio, the toothed instru-

The hoe is lighter made than formerly, and is At first, the common iron hoe, sharpened by the blacksmith, was in constant use. Now, it is rarely seen outside of the Southern States, where it has long been the chief implement in agriculture.

The various small plows for the cultivation of corn and such other crops as necessitated their use are all the result of modern civilization. Now, their number is large, and, in many places, there are two or more attached to one carriage, whose operator rides. These kinds are much used in the Western States, whose rootless and stoneless soil is admirably adapted to such machinery.

" Thrust in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe," wrote the sacred New Testament, while the Old chronicles as early as the time of Moses: " As thou beginnest to put the sickle to the corn.

In more modern times, the handle of the sickle was lengthened, then the blade, which in time led to the scythe. Both are yet in use in many parts of the world. The use of the scythe led some thinking person to add a "finger" or two, and to change the shape of the handle. The old cradle was the result. At first it met considerable opposition from the laborers, who brought forward the old-time argument of ignorance, that it would cheapen labor.

Whether the cradle is a native of America or Europe is not accurately decided; probably of the mother country. It came into common use about 1818, and in a few years had found its way into the wheat-producing regions of the West. Where small crops are raised, the cradle is yet much used. A man can cut from two to four acres per day, hence, it is much cheaper than a reaper, where the crop is small.

The mower and reaper are comparatively modern inventions. A rude reaping machine is mentioned by Pliny in the first century. It was pushed by an ox through the standing grain. On its front was a sharp edge, which cut the grain. It was, however, impracticable, as it cut only a portion of the grain, and the peasantry preferred the sickle. Other and later attempts to make reapers do not seem to have been successful, and not till the present century was a machine made that would do the work required. In 1826, Mr. Bell, of Scotland, constructed a machine which is yet used in many parts of that country. In America, Mr. Hussey and Mr. McCormick took out patents for reaping machines of superior character in 1833 were various contrivances, but both manufacturers soon adopted a serrated knife, triangular shaped, attached to a bar, and driven through "finger guards" attached to it, by a forward and backward motion. These are the common ones now in use, save that all do not use serrated knives. Since

As was expected by the inventors of reapers, they met with a determined resistance from those who in former times made their living by harvesting. It was again absurdly argued that they would cheapen labor, and hence were an injury to the laboring man. Indeed, when the first machines were brought into Ohio, many of them were torn to pieces by the ignorant hands. Others left fields in a body when the proprietor brought a reaper to his farm. Like all such fallacies, these, in time, passed away, leaving only their stain.

Following the reaper came the thresher. As the country filled with inhabitants, and men increased their possessions, more rapid means than the old flail or roller method were demanded. At first the grain was trodden out by horses driven over the bundles, which were laid in a circular inclosure. The old flail, the tramping-out by horses, and the cleaning by the sheet, or throwing the grain up against a current of air, were too slow, and machines were the result of the demand. In Ohio the manufacture of threshers began in 1846, in the southwestern part. Isaac Tobias, who came to Hamilton from Miamisburg that year, commenced building the threshers then in use. They were without the cleaning attachment, and simply hulled the grain. Two years later, he began manufacturing the combined thresher and cleaner, which were then coming into use. He continued in business till 1851. Four years after, the increased demand for such machines, consequent upon the increased agricultural products, induced the firm of Owens, Lane & Dyer to fit their establishment for the manufacture of threshers. They afterward added the manufacture of steam engines to be used in the place of horse power. Since then the manufacture of these machines, as well as that of all other agricultural machinery, has greatly multiplied and improved, until now it seems as though but little room for improvement remains. One of the largest firms engaged in the manufacture of threshers and their component machinery is located at Mansfield - the Aultman & Taylor Co. Others are at Massillon, and at other cities |

- too many to be mentioned in a volume like this. Under special subjects they will occasionally be found. The farmer's life, so cheerless in pioneer times, and so full of weary labor, is daily becoming less laborious, until, if they as a class profit by the advances, they can find a life of ease in farm pursuits, not attainable in any other profession. Now machines do almost all the work. They sow, cultivate, cut, bind, thresh, winnow and carry the grain. They, cut, rake, load, mow and dry the hay. They husk, shell and clean the corn. They cut and split the wood. They do almost all; until it seems as though the day may come when the farmer can sit in his house and simply guide the affairs of his farm.

Any occupation prospers in proportion to the interest taken in it by its members. This interest is always heightened by an exchange of views, hence societies and periodicals exercise an influence at first hardy realized. This feeling among prominent agriculturists led to the formation of agricultural societies, at first by counties, then districts, then by States, and lastly by associations of States. The day may come when a national agricultural fair may be one of the annual attractions of America.

Without noticing the early attempts to found such societies in Kurope or America, the narrative will begin with those of Ohio. The first agricultural society organized in the Buckeye State was the Hamilton County Agricultural Society. Its exact date of organization is not now preserved, but to a certainty it is known that the Society held public exhibitions as a County Society prior to 1823. Previous to that date there were, doubtless, small, private exhibitions held in older localities, probably at Marietta, but no regular organization seems to have been maintained. The Hamilton County Society held its fairs annually, with marked success. Its successor, the present Society, is now one of the largest county societies in the Union.

During the legislative session of 1832-33, the subject of agriculture seems to have agitated the minds of the people through their representatives, for the records of that session show the first laws passed for their benefit. The acts of that body seem to have been productive of some good, for, though no records of the number of societies organized at that date exist, yet the record shows that "many societies have been organized in conformity to this act," etc. No doubt many societies held fairs from this time, for a greater or less number of years. Agricultural journals* were, at this period, rare in the State, and the subject of agricultural improvement did not -receive that attention from the press it does at this time ; and, for want of public spirit and attention to sustain these fairs, they were gradually discontinued until the new act respecting their organization was passed in 1846. However, records of several county societies of the years between 1832 and 1846 yet exist, showing that in some parts of the State, the interest in these fairs was by no means diminished. The Delaware County Society reports for the year 1833 - it was organized in June of that year - good progress for a beginning, and that much interest was manifested by the citizens of the county.

Ross County held its first exhibition in the autumn of that year, and the report of the managers is quite cheerful. Nearly all of the exhibited articles were sold at auction, at greatly advanced prices from the current ones of the day. The entry seems to have been free, in an open inclosure, and but little revenue was derived. Little was expected, hence no one was disappointed.

Washington County reports an excellent cattle show for that year, and a number of premiums awarded to the successful exhibitors. This same year the Ohio Importation Company was organized at the Ross County fair. The Company began the next season the importation of fine cattle from England, and, in a few years, did incalculable good in this respect, as well as make considerable money in the enterprise.

These societies were re-organized when the law of 1846 went into effect, and, with those that had gone down and the new ones started, gave an impetus to agriculture that to this day is felt. Now every county has a society, while district, State and inter-State societies are annually held; all promotive in their tendency, and all a benefit to every one.

The Ohio State Board of Agriculture was organized by an act of the Legislature, passed February 27, 1846. Since then various amendments to the organic law have been passed from time to time as

These were the early agricuitural journals, some of which yet survive, though in new names,and under new Management. Others have, also, since been added, some of which have an exceedingly large circulation, and are an influence for much good in the State.

the State demanded. The same day that the act was passed creating the State Board, an act was also passed providing for the erection of county and district societies, under which law, with subsequent amendments, the present county and district agricultural societies are managed. During the years from 1846 down to the present time, great improve- -ments have been made in the manner of conducting these societies, resulting in exhibitions unsurpassed in any other State.

Pomology and horticulture are branches of industry so closely allied with agriculture that a brief resume of their operations in Ohio will be eminently adapted to these pages. The early planting and care of fruit in Ohio has already been noticed. Among the earliest pioneers were men of fine tastes, who not only desired to benefit themselves and their country, but who were possessed with a laudable ambition to produce the best fruits and vegetables the State could raise. For this end they studied carefully the topography of the country, its soil, climate, and various influences upon such culture, and by careful experiments with fruit and vegetables, produced the excellent varieties now in use. Mention has been made of Mr. Longworth and Mr. Ernst, of Cincinnati; and Israel and Aaron W. Putnam, on the Muskingum River ; Mr. Dille,

HE climate of Ohio varies about four degrees. Though originally liable to malaria in many districts when first settled, in consequence of a dense vegetation induced by summer heats and

The State is as favorable in its sanitary characteristics as any other in its locality. Ohio is remarkable for its high productive capacity, almost within its range. Its extremes of heat and cold are less than almost any other State in or near the same latitude, hence Ohio suffers less from the extreme dry or wet seasons which affect all adjoining