The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1886-03-11

| the dogs arranged themselves just be-
yound where the top would reach the
ground, and the moment the tree
struck the ground, the dogs rushed in,
and very rarely did the coon escape,
and reach another tree.
After the destruction by hens,
ground squirrels, cut worms, birds,
gray squirrels, raccoons, and the
amount used by the family, the crop
gathered in the fall was not very
large.
The cultivation Of the corn crop
consisted in blowing it two or three
times, and cutting down the weeds
with hoes. The first year the weeds
were mostly butter weed, hog weed,
or horse weed, and few others. The
first time the corn was worked, the
hills destroyed, or partially so, were re-
planted. Three stalks to the hill was
the rule-not less than two. All over
three were pulled up, the smallest
being taken.
When the cultivation was COM
pleted, perhaps early in July, the corn
was said to be Laid BY" Then for
nearly two months the pioneer was
engaged, first in clearing an acre or
less, for a turnip patch. The grubs
trimmings of the saplings were piled
in row around the new clearing, and
a brush fence thus made. The seed
Was sown, and narrowed in by hitch
ing the horse to a bush cut off, and
dragging it repeatedly y over the ground.
The pioneer now spent much of the
time in killing the squirrels, to pro-
tect his corn crop. With rifle gun
and small dog he would go around
the outside of the field He would
see the tassel Of corn stalk shaking,
and would rest his gun on the fence,
and shoot the squirrel while on the
ear of corn. IF the squirrel saw him,
and sprang to the ground, the dog
was sent in, and the squirrel was
forced to take up the nearest tree. /
have seen squirrels, when forced up a
small, or low dead tree, jump off, at a
distance of 80 or 40 feet, and alight
in safety outside Of the fence, and run
up green tree.
When corn began to get hard, the
squirrels would not eat it, but would
take off one grain at time and eat
the heart Of it. The heart was the
germ, and was half the size of a grain
Of wheat. This was soft, and quite
sweet. A squirrel would thus destroy
a large amount of corn, only eating
SO small portion Of each grain.
Early in September, and just before
frost came, the fodder was saved.
Generally the blades were stripped of
by hand, thrust between the stalks in
the hill, and in day or two they we're
dry. Late in the evening when damp
from the dew, they were tied in small
bundles, and stacked around a pole
set in the ground. Blades made first
rate food in winter for horses, cattle
and sheep. Often the blades We're
only stripped from the ear down, and
the tops cut off above the ear and
saved It was not common to cut up
corn near the ground as it is now
done.
In the latter part Of October, and
nearly all through November, was
Indian Summer. 1t was clear, still
and smoky-glorious weather. |
have often wondered why there is no
Indian Summers now, as there were
sixty years ago. During this beauti-
full season the corn gathering took
place. The ea1s were pulled from the
stalks and thrown into piles, and then
hauled in a sled to the corn crib, and
unloaded into pile on the upper side
of the corn crib. The first fall the
eyes would be filled, while corn gath
ering, with the cotton attached to the
seeds of the butter weed. The seeds
were so light that the cotton to which
they were attached carried them
everywhere. In year or two the
butter weed was superseded by the
Spanish needle and the cuckle bur.
These fastened themselves into the
clothing and covered the entire per-
son when gathering corn. The sharp,
barbed points passed through the
clothing, and were very irritating to
the skin.
The pioneer asked his neighbors to
come and help him husk Tor shuck)
his corn. Often the husking was
done at night generally so in the
light of the moon. From ten to
twenty would come, men, women and
children. The corn, when husked. an
ear at time, was tossed into the top
Of the crib, the.roof being taken off.
The husks were thrown back of the
huskers, and when they had formed
quite ridge, the boys and girls gath
cred an armful at time and put
them in the husk pen, a structure
built of fence rails. Then the chill
dren would get upon the husks and
tramp them down. This was fine
sport for the young folks, as they
would wrestle and rcmp over the
husks and settle them down.
Near the finishing of the work, two
captains were chosen, the remnant of