Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/172

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��HISTOEY OF OHIO.

��food, and from the beginning of the eighteenth cent- ury, its use has never decUned. It is now known in every quarter of the world, and has, by cultiva- tion, been greatly improved.

The inhabitants of America learned its use from the Indians, who cultivated it and other root crops — rutabagas, radishes, etc., and taught the whites their value. When the pioneers of Ohio came to its fertile valleys, they brought improved species with them, which by cultiva- tion and soil, are now greatly increased, and are among the standard crops of the State.

The cucurbitaceous plants, squashes, etc., were, like the potato and similar root crops, indigenous to America — others, like the melons, to Asia — and were among the staple foods of the original inhabitants. The early French missionaries of the West speak of both root crops and cucurbi- taceous plants as in use among the aboriginal inhab- itants. "They are very sweet and wholesome," wrote Marquette. Others speak in the same terms, though some of the plants in this order had found their way to these valleys through the Spaniards and others through early Atlantic Coast and Mex- ican inhabitants. Their use by the settlers of the West, especially Ohio, is traced to New England, as the first settlers came from that portion of the Union. They grow well in all parts of the State, and by cultivation have been greatly improved in quality and variety. All cucurbitaceous plants require a rich, porous soil, and by proper atten- tion to their cultivation, excellent results can be attained.

Probably the earliest and most important imple- ment of husbandry known is the plow. Grain, plants and roots will not grow well unless the soil in which they are planted be properly stirred, hence the first requirement was an instrument that would fulfill such conditions.

The first implements were rude indeed ; gener- ally, stout wooden sticks, drawn through the earth by thongs attached to rude ox-yokes, or fastened to the animal's horns. Such plows were in use among the ancient J]gyptians, and may yet be found among uncivilized nations. The Old Testa^ ment furnishes numerous instances of the use of the plow, while, on the ruins of ancient cities and among the pyramids of Egypt, and on the buried walls of Babylon, and other extinct cities, are rude drawings of this useful implement. As the use of iron became apparent and general, it was util- ized for plow-points, where the wood alone would not penetrate the earth. They got their plow-

��shares sharpened in Old Testament days, also coulters, which shows, beyond a doubt, that iron- pointed plows were then in use. From times mentioned in the Bible, on heathen tombs, and ancient catacombs, the improvement of the plow, like other farming tools, went on, as the race of man grew in intelligence. Extensive manors in the old country required increased means of turning the ground, and, to meet these demands, ingenious mechanics, from time to time, invented improved plows. Strange to say, however, no improvement was ever made by the farmer himself This is ac counted for in his habits of life, and, too often, the disposition to "take things as they are." When America was settled, the plow had become an im- plement capable of turning two or three acres per day. Still, and for many years, and even until lately, the mold-board was entirely wooden, the point only iron. Later developments changed the wood for steel, which now alone is used. Still later, especially in prairie States, riding plows are used. Like all other improvements, they were obliged to combat an obtuse public mind among the ruralists, who slowly combat almost every move made to better their condition. In many places in America, wooden plows, straight ax handles, and a stone in one end of the bag, to bal- ance the grist in the other, are the rule, and for no other reason in the world are they maintained than the laconic answer:

" My father did so, and why should not I? Am I better than he? "

After the plow comes the harrow, but little changed, save in lightness and beauty. Formerly, a log of wood, or a brush harrow, supplied its place, but in the State of Ohio, the toothed instru- ment has nearly always been used.

The hoe is lighter made than formerly, and is now made of steel. At first, the common iron hoe, sharpened by the blacksmith, was in constant use. Now, it is rarely seen outside of the South- ern States, where it has long been the chief imple- ment in agriculture.

The various small plows for the cultivation of corn and such other crops as necessitated their use are all the result of modern civilization. Now, their number is large, and, in many places, there are two or more attached to one carriage, whose operator rides. These kinds are much used in the Western States, whose rootless and stoneless soil is admirably adapted to such machinery.

When the grain became ripe, implements to cut it were in demand. In ancient times, the sickle

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