MDALLEGA-L Archives

Archiver > MDALLEGA > 2004-01 > 1073000978


From: "connie beachy" <>
Subject: [MDALLEGA] OLD FARMING TERMS
Date: Thu, 1 Jan 2004 18:49:38 -0500


I've been blessed with the opportunity to read an old farmer's diary,
written in 1884. This old fellow was born in 1843 and died in 1933, so he
seems to have lived a good life. I fell in love with him long before I had
the chance to read his diary. However I have some questions that maybe
someone out there has found an answer to.

1. - Beginning in the early summer, either the farmer or his sons had the
job of "peeling bark". Later in November we find them now hauling out
loads of bark. Question is: what was it used for? No mention is made of
building canoes. No river in this area, for that matter.

2. In November the magnificent old farm house was getting fixed up. New
roof on the cold part of the house (northside) and then the two fellows who
did this work "were busy today putting iron rods through the house."
Did these iron rods hold up the walls? Or were they for mom to hang the
clothing on to dry? Or something else I haven't fathomed?

3. When a farmer spent the day "grubbing", what was he doing?

4. This farmer bought himself a Wheat Drill and really enjoyed using it.
FOR WHAT? Wheat isn't drilled, is it?

Thanks for any help.

Connie
History is preserved through knowledge shared


This thread: