The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1910-01-06
FAMOUS HAGERSTCWN ALMANAC
Has Been Textbook for Farmers for
Oyer a Century.


the coming year and this gives rise to
few thoughts on the Hagerstown AL
manac, which has enjoyed such an i'm
mense popularity in this part of the
country for upwards of century.
Many grandfather of today can re-
member when as boy he sat by the
old Yule log and read the Hagerstown
Almanac as one of the important vol
umes of his home. For 113 years it has
been read in Pennsylvania, its weather
predictions studied and its advice care
fully considered. One Unlontown man
says his great-grandfather bought this
almanac and the three succeeding gen
erations haye always bought and the
copies of years ago have been handed
down in the family,
In the early days when books were
scarce many families used the Hagers-
town Almanac as text book to teach
the children to read. Even Poor Rich
ards Almanac, published by Benjamin
Franklin, did not attain the popularity
in this section that was enjoyed by the
Hagerstown Almanac, which is now in
appearance very much the same that it
was as far back as the oldest inhabitant
can remember.
Every farmer still wants an almanac,
but it is not the household text book
now that it was Is years ago. But the
Hagerstown Almanac still has a wonder
full hold upon the people and it is on sale
at all the country cross roads stores in
the agricultural districts of Pennsyl-
vania as well as in larger towns and
cities.
Despite the fact that other almanacs
are given away the Hagerstown Alma
nae is still in demand and maintains its
standard price of 1Oc. Druggist Frank
Huston has been selling this book for
az years and has number of customers
who have been buying this almanac
from him for upwards of quarter of a
century. He now orders five gross, or
72O, each year for his Uniontown and
Connellsville stores.
In the winter season when the far
mers are kept in the house many of
them study the almanacs carefully.
The housewives use the almanac as a
diary and record in it when they set
their hen, when the calf is born, when
they plant the early vegetables, and
keep in it general record of doings
about the farm.
The country people by the use of their
almanacs doubtless become better in
formed than their city cousins on astro-
nomical data and weather conditions.
These books give conjectures on the
weather, aspects of the planets, chrome
logical cycles, movable festivals, house
hold recipes and conjecture of use
full and entertaining matters, anecdotes,
etc, and many farmers swear by their
almanacs and follow the signs given in
them.
Each day in the year is governed by
some sign, The sign of the twins is a
good time to plant cucumbers orTother
vegetables, as it indicates there will be
plenty of them.
The sign of the flower girl is good
time to plant posies, because there will
be plenty of bloom. However if corn
or grain is planted IN this sign it will go
into bloom rather than into fruition and
rIpening.
The sign of the quarter moon with
the semi. circle down indicates that the
canoe is floating and that it is wet
weather. Then when the semi-circle
rest on the top it is dry weather.
The sign of Leo, the Lion, is good
time to set out trees or plant ANYTHING
you desire to grow into strength and
thriftiness.
The sign of the crab is good time
to put grass seed, potatoes or vegetables
in the ground, or anything which is in
tended to be rooted in the ground. The
sign of the crab is not so often used,
however, because 1t points to the heart.
During the last few decades medical
almanacs have been improving and
some are considered sound in their adj
vice. The Hagerstown Almanac is not
a medical almanac. 1t gives conjec-
lures and representations of the
weather, recipes for the farmer and his
wife, pertinent advice. entertaining in
formation, bright sayings and few ad-
vertisements. Its cover page and sub
ject matters are gotten up in the same
style as in the past. On the back is a
large multiplication table which old res
idents say they have never seen pro-
duced anywhere else.
In the book itself we find the follow
ing wording and spelling: "Hagers-
Town Town and Country Almanack
Published by John Gruber. Carefully
calculated for the horizon of Maryland,
but will serve for the adjacent states
without material variation. German
almanacks are also to be had. Con
nellsville Standard.