Logan County IL Archives History - Books .....Agriculture 1953 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 31, 2007, 12:33 am Book Title: A History Of Atlanta AGRICULTURE The early settlers in Atlanta Township preferred the timber to the prairie. A characteristic of the settlement of the township was the staking out of claims in the timber lands adjacent to the creeks. These pioneers came from a timbered country and, since they were accustomed from childhood to seeing "clearings," the timber had more the appearance of home and in addition furnished fuel and protection from the chilling winds. It was a common practice among the pioneers to clear the timber from a small area, in one instance fifteen acres is mentioned, fence it, plow it as well as they could among the roots and stumps, and plant it in corn and pumpkins. They made a double use of the prairie grass; they used that which made a moderate growth for hay, and that which grew in the swamps and made a rank growth, for making shelter for their stock. Although the early settlers considered as ridiculous the idea that crops could be grown on the prairie some of them began experimenting with the cultivation of the prairie ground. To their surprise the prairie produced almost twice as much per acre as the timber land. The prairie regions offered advantages much superior to the timbered country. In the timbered country a large amount of work had to be done to remove the trees, and for many years after, the stumps prevented free cultivation of the soil. In contrast to this, on the prairie the sod had only to be turned and the crop put in. It was soon evident that this was to be an important agricultural area. That the future of Illinois as an agricultural state had much to do with bringing many of the early settlers here is indicated by the material included in the book "Illinois As It Is," written in 1857 by Fred Gerhard of New York. At this period there was a great mass of emigration from Europe and Gerhard was seeking to direct it to Illinois. He secured the material for his book from letters written to him by early residents here in reply to his letters asking for information concerning conditions in Illinois. This book is considered of historical value. The University of Illinois does not permit the copy there to be sent from the library and the Illinois State Historical Library sends out one of their copies only by registered mail. This statement is made by Gerhard — "The virgin soil, adapted by nature for immediate culture, only awaits the plough and the seed, in order to mature golden ears of the most beautiful corn. — No additional fertilizer is needed; the soil consists of a rich black mould. — Illinois offers the amplest guarantees for the rapid thriving and ultimate success and welfare of those who may wish to establish for themselves a 'Home in the West'." At an early date the prairie sod was broken by an ox team of six to ten yoke with a heavy, unwieldy looking plow. The plow beam was framed into an axle, on each end of which was a wheel sawed from an oak log. Corn was planted by cutting a gash with an ax into the inverted sod, dropping the corn and closing it with another blow beside the first. After the farmer had gathered the year's crop of corn, with husks attached, he had a husking bee. Friends came from miles around and after the husking was completed an old time dance was held. In the cultivation of wheat the plowed land was smoothed by dragging brush over it. The wheat was sowed broadcast by hand and harrowed in with brush. Either a sickle or a cradle was used to cut the wheat. The wheat was then bound and shocked. When sufficiently cured it was taken to some place on the farm convenient for threshing and there put into a stack. The threshing was done by flail or tramping with horses. The straw was cleaned by letting it fall from the height of ten or twelve feet and letting the wind, blow away the chaff. Oats also were grown but there was no need for fields of timothy or clover as the prairies yielded tons of hay which could be had for the cutting. Little attention was paid to the rotation of crops since the rich soil produced whatever was expected of it and most farmers, thinking it unnecessary to pay any regard to the land, were under the impression that they best guarded their interests by cultivating exclusively what commanded the highest price. In one respect the early farmer had an advantage over the farmer of today. His crops were not injured by insects. The prairie grass was set on fire each year and all the country burned over so there was little hiding place for insect life and the crops grew so rapidly on the new and fertile soil that, if any destructive insects existed, the damage they did was so small as not to be noticed. Numerous insects and diseases now invade' the farmers' fields of grain. The horse was very important to the farmer until the 1940s when many farms had become completely mechanized. In the 1880s trading in horses was an important business. Many traders made trips to Europe to buy horses to be shipped back and sold to the farmers. The breeding of fine draft horses was also an important business. But since the 1920s mechanized equipment has gradually replaced horse operated implements until now there are many farms without a horse on them. Early fences were the zig-zag rail fence and the board fence in which two posts and three boards constituted a panel. But the fence most highly recommended was the hedge fence and hedge plants were grown to be sold to the farmers to be set out on their farms. This fence did not become an effective fence until about four years after being finished so that another fence was erected outside the hedge fence to serve during the interval. The hedge fence, because of its luxurious growth above ground and its extensive root system, prevented the planting of crops for several feet at the edge of the field. As cultivation of the soil became more intensive this became more and more of a handicap. Most of the hedges have been pulled and replaced with fences of other types. The barbed wire fence has been used on many farms. It takes up very little space and has this additional advantage; it can be taken up and used in another place if desired. The latest fence to come into use is the electric fence. A single wire is attached to a source of electricity and when an animal touches it he receives enough of a shock to discourage a further attempt to break through. Improvements were begun early to make farming a science and a business. Agricultural societies, schools and experiment stations have studied practically every phase of farm life, and scientific principles have been applied to the solution of farm problems. The changes which have taken place in agriculture rival those which have taken place in industry. In the past fifty years there has been an agricultural revolution. The revolution has many phases — machinery, new livestock, insecticides, irrigation, fertilizers. Machines have changed the every day life of the farmer — automobiles, tractors, hay balers, combines, corn pickers, electric milking machines and many others which are not directly connected with farming but which make living on the farm more attractive. Farming is now a complicated business requiring a rather large investment and involving many risks over which the farmer has no control. As interdependence between the city and the farm became more pronounced, the rural communities lost their isolation. There was a time when living in the country was a lonely life. Farm women were diffident and farm children were timid and bashful because they seldom met anyone outside the family. Today farm people have a full social and cultural life. They take advantage of the good roads. They go more and mingle with people of all businesses and professions. Through their many organizations rural people are building a new social life adapted to these times and as full of pleasure as the husking bees, threshing rings, sausage makings, apple parings, quilting bees, sleigh rides and singing schools of other times. Additional Comments: Extracted from: A HISTORY OF ATLANTA 1853-1953 Prepared by Citizens of Atlanta As a Part of the Observance of the Centennial, June 11,12 and 13,1953 THE PUBLICATION IS SPONSORED BY THE ATLANTA WOMAN'S CLUB Atlanta, Illinois 1953 Published By The Stewart - Pinks Publishing Co. Atlanta, Illinois File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/logan/history/1953/ahistory/agricult51gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ilfiles/ File size: 8.9 Kb