Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-02-12

dwcllingh0usc than his fndc log
cabin. There were none of our
primitive immigrants more uniform
in the form Of their buildings than
the Germans. Their dwelling
houses were seldom raised more
than a single story in height, with
a large cellar beneath; the chimney
H. the middle, with very wide
fire replaceiu one end for the kitchen,
in other end stove room. Their
furniture was Of the simplest and
plainest kind and there was al
WAYS a long pine table fixed in one
corner Of tho stove room, with
permanent benches on one side.
One the upper floor, garners for
holding grain were very common.
Their beds ware generally filled
with straw or chan, with Il lhe
feather bed for covering in the
winter. The author has several
times slept in this kind Of a bed ;
and to u person unaccustomed to
it, il is attended not unfrequently
with danger to the health. The
thick covering of the feathers is
pretty certain TO produce a prolusc
perspiratiOn, which an exposure to
cold, on rising in the morning, IS
apt to check suddenly, causing
chillness and obstinate cough. The
author, a few years ago, caught III
this way the most severe cold,
which was followed by a long and
distressing cough, he was ever
afflicted with.
Many Of the Germans have what
they call a drum, through which
the stove pipe passes in their mp
per rooms. 1t is made Of sheet iron,
something in the shape of the mill
tary drum. 1t soon fills with heat
from the pipe, by which the rooms
become agreeably warm III the
coolest weather. \ piazza is a very
common appendage 20 a Dutchman's
dwellng-house, in which his sad
dies, and very frequently his wagon
or plow harness are hung up.
The Germans erect stables for
their domestic animals Of every
species even their swine are hous-
ed in the winter season. Their
barns and stables are well stored
with provender, particularly fine
hay hence their quadrupcds Of all
kinds are kept throughout the year
in the finest possible order This
practice Of housing stock in the
winter season is unquesiionably
great economy in husbandry. Much
less food is required to sustain
them, and the animals come out IN
the spring in fine health and con
dition. 1t Is a rare occurrence to
hear of a Dutchman's losing any
part Of his stock with poverty. The
practice of housing stock IN the
winter Is not exclusively u German
custom. but it Is common TO most
Of the northern people, aud those
descended from immigrants from
the north. The author rocollects
once seeing the COW stalls adjoining
a farmers dwelling.
The German. women many of them,
are remarkably neat housckeereIr'
There are some of them, however,
extremely slovenly,and their dwell
ings are kept in the worst possible
condition. The enluvia arising
from this want of cleanliness IL III
the highest degree disgusting and
offensive to persons unaccustomed
to snch fare. The same remarks
are applicable to the Irish nay to
some native Nirginans. The Ger
mans are remarkable for their fine
bread. q ilk and butter. They con
sumo in their diet less animal
flesh, and OF course more vegeta-
bic, than most Otherpeoplc. Their
"soul krout'(a) in the winter con
stitutes a considerable part Oftheir
living. They generally consume
less, and sell more OF the product
Of their labor, than any other class
of our citizens. 4 Dutchman Is
provcrbial for his patent perScver.
ance ih his domestic labOrs. Their
farms are generally small and nice
IL cultivated. In Lis agr cultural
pursuits, his meadows demand his
greatest care and attention. His
! little farm is laid off i'll fields not
exceeding ten or twelve acres each.
1t is rarely seen that Dutchman
will cultivate more than about ten
or twelve acres in Indian corn any
one year. They are Of opinion
that the corn crop Is a great ex'
hauster of the soil, and they make
but little use of corn for any other
purpose than feeding and fattening
their swine.
Previous to the revolution, and
for several years after, considera-
bic quantities of tobacco were rails
ed in the lower counties of the val
ley. The cultivation Of this crop
was first introduced and pursued
by immigrants from the eastern
counties of Virginia. From the
(a)"sour kroup is made of the best o
cabbage. A box about three feet in length
and ak or seven inches wide, with sharI
blade fixed across the bottom, something
on the principle Of the jack plane, is use'
for cutting the cabbage. The head being
separated from the stalk, and stripped o
its outer leaves, Is placed in this box, and