Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1854-10-04
guuhun fire. press.
AGRICULTURAL.
Farming in Early Times.

Farming in Early Times.
In looking over lately the Annual Report Of
the Massachusetts Board of Agriculture, by
CHARLES L. FLINT, we have observed some
SIN uar facts variously scattered through it, in
relation to farm management in early times,
which may be ofinterest to our readers.
Farmers at the present time usually prefer
red colOred cattle; but soon after the landing OF
the pilgrims, these were considered the least
valuable of all, for the simple reason that they
were more liable to be mistaken for deer and
killed by the wolves. black calf therefore,
commanded much niger price. A singular
disproportion in prices prevailed at the same
time; for while cows we're often so high as to
sell in 1896, for twenty-five to thirty pounds
sterling, and oxen at forty pounds per pair, a
quart of new milk, or four eggs, could be bought
for a penny. The real value of such cattle, at
our present estimates, may be inferred from the
fact that a hundred and fifty years ago, the
average weight of cattle at the Smith6eId Mar.
ket was not over $40 pounds, and that of sheep
% pounds. Now the average weight of the
former is over 500 pounds, and of the latter 80
poands.
1t is also stated that twelve years after the
landing of the pilgrims, tie farmers about
Boston, having no plows, were obliged to break
up the bushes with their hands and hoes, in
preparing the land for cultivation; and in 1887,
there were only 81 plOwS in the whole State
Even later than this, it was the custom for the
owner ola pillow to take it from one place to
another, doing the blowing for a whole neigh
borhood.
The lnhabitats had not then learned the value
nor the cultivation of Indian ccrn, pumpkin s,
squashes, and potatoes. Even as late as the
beginning of the 18th century, potatoes were
sold in England for two shillings per pound, for
the queens table, and were used as fruit,
baked into pies. seasoned with spices and wine,
and sometimes eaten with sugar.
The following is specimen of subsequent
husbandry which a few have followed, even as
late as the memory ofthe oldest living lnhabi-
tant9 and which we commend to the special at
tention of those who think we should not at
tempt to be wiser than our fatherS:-"Land new
and rich in mould, the accumulation of ages,
did not require very careful cultivation to secure
an abundant return. But a few years of con-
slant cropping exhausted It's productiveness.
The proprietor could easily obtain other lands,
to be subjected to the same process. He rails
ed wheat until the land became too poor and
then he raised corn; and when it would no long
er produce corn, he sowed barley or rye and so
on to BEANS" We have heard of an ingenious
farmer, who, to get rid of his hog manure in
the cheapest manner, built the pen asrosS a
stream Of water, into which the cleanings could
be very readily shoveled, 10 be washed out of
the way. Equally ingenius was the practice
mentioned in this report, which no doubt was
a part of the same system of economy we have
just quoted! "Even so late as the memory of
men still living, the barn was sometimes moved
away to getit out of the way of heaps of ma
nure by which it was surrounded, because the
owner would not 60 to the expense Of removing
these acumulations and put them on his fields"