The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1877-08-29

ground was continually falling and in
juring the crop, and each spring require,
another clearing to be ready for tn
plow.
Ii was this system Of halt clearing
lands and wearing them out before tn,
clearing was completed, and raising it'll
else but cereals, that caused so much EN-
igration to the prairie lands Of the fa
west, and ruined the reputation Of oul
lands for many years. Corn was tn,
principal crop OF the country. This
when the ear had nearly matured, wa,
stripped of the blades from the ear down
and the tops cut of Immediately above
the ears, stacked around pole in the
field, and the tops put in shocks, and
when cured. was spread over frame oil
rails and poles, forming what vas known
as fodder-house. Convenient 10 this
house the corn when gathered was hauled
and thrown, and when shucked was
hauled to the crib, and the shucks care
fully packed away in the fodder-house.
The blades were reserved for the horses,
the shucks were carried out and scat
tered to the cattle, on the ground, wheth-
er il was wet or dry. A shocking was a
next important event TO a wedding, and
was always well attended, especially il
pretty girls were about, which they gen.
orally we're, notwithstanding the rules
and regulations Of corn stockings, im>
posed the severe penalty of kiss upon
any lady who happened to be so unlucky
as to find red ear Of corn. This red ear,
when found, WAS apparently endeavored
to be concealed by the most fussy induse
try, but WAS as invariably revealed by as
distinct cackle as biddy gives on leav-
ing her nest.
We cast no reflections upon the early
settlers Of the country. They had labors
and difficulties under which most Of us
would now succumb, without any Of the
Improvements in agricultural implements
and labor saving machines, with nothing
but the old-fashioned bar>shear and
shovel plows. the old-fashioned scythe
and sickle, without sufficient cleared
lands for meadows, pastures and clover
fields, they labored and toiled as few men
do at the present day, Another grievous
difficulty under which they labored, was
the want of sufficient knowledge and ex-
perience of the adaptability of different
crops TO the various soils and localities.
1t was for long time supposed that our
uplands would neither produce grass nor
clover. hence they were almost entirely
neglected and never used for rotation
crops, and the most of the bottom lands
were considered as entirely worthless.
Hence it was, that by the time a family
of children were raised, the father had
worn out his life aud farm together, and
the children having sought homes else
where, the old homestead was left DESC
lated and deserted. or passed into The
hands Of strangers.
All changes in the manners and GUS
toms Of society are more Of the result Of
time, experience and accidental discover
les than any direct, scientific eulighten,
ment or teachings of philosophy. 1t was
more the result of accidental and repeat
ed experiments that farmers found that
their worn and deteriorated lands could
be improved by clover and grass crops.
and that our wet, overlooked bottoms
made the best OF meadow lands, and that
although large crops Of tobacco yielded
the most ready money, yet, after a series
Of years, he who devoted the time usual
ly employed on the tobacco crop, in inn
proving his. farm, increasing his m eadows
and pastures, and using good stock Of all
kinds, was greatly ahead in real wealth
Of his neighbor. who wore out his lands
and neglected his farm and stock while
cultivating large crops of tobacco.
1t has only been within the last thirty
years that our farmers began to abandon
their old habits and customs and adopt
the recent improvement in agricultural
implements and modes of farming, and
this vac brought about by necessity,
that mother Of invention" as much as
by any scientific enlightenment. That
migratory class Of society who are the
pioneers OF civilization, and usually fol.
low the buffalo and elk, as they recede
from the dense population, had all dissp-
peared. A new generation had sprung
up, whose feelings. friendships aud loves
were mingled and intertwined with the
society around them. They have grown
up in long years Of profound peace-the
allurements Of the chase, the pomps and
triumphs Of war were unknown, To them,
and their highest aims were to marry
those they loved, and settle down among
their kin.
II was partly by this natural increase,
and partly by immigration from the upper
and older counties of the State, where
lands had so greatly risen in value, that
men with small farms and large families
found it to their interest to sell out and re-
more to this section; that lands here al
so began to increase ia value. All, how.
ever, could not procure choice lands, and
the result was, that many worn out and
poor lands were purchased and settled
upon and farmers now began seriously to
think Of taking care OF and improving
their lands, in which many OF them have
had admirable success.
AS class, our farmers were generally
prosperous at the commencement of the
late war, during which labor was so dis
organized. that many have abandoned
their farms and sought other modes OF
employment, in which some have, and
others will fail. Reason seems to indi-
| aofa that n haffar onu.ao ,-o,,lI n. co.