Affleck's Almanac, January 1860
It is certainly to be looked upon as a misfortune when the cotton
crop has not all been gathered, if not also baled and sent to
market, before the close of the year....Keep the plow in motion,
whenever the weather and the state of the soil will permit. Frost
may correct the bad effects of plowing, when the soil is too wet;
but do not trust to that when avoidable. By a timely beginning, an opportunity may be had for stirring up the water-furrow with a stout bull-tongue, drawn by two horses, previous to turning the first two furrows on it; the good effects of which will show themselves through the whole season. During dry weather, haul out and distribute manure and composts, to be spread as the plowing advances. Cotton seed, intended for manuring thin hill lands, may be composted in some hollow or nook of bottom-land, where there is a deposit of rich earth; mix intimately as it is hauled out. Manure is generally best applied broadcast; the roots of plants find it as they need it. Beat down cotton-stalks and chop corn-stalks short, so that the plow may cover them up. Under no circumstances burn the latter; nor the former unless very large....
No labor upon the plantation is better bestowed, than that which is applied to drawing the heavy cover of crab or crop-grass, pea-vine and corn-stalk, into the water furrow, with the hoes, early in the winter, and immediately casting a heavy furrow upon it. Cut and roll logs; and, after burning them, carefully pile up the ashes and burnt earth, as an excellent manure for young corn--giving it a start over the grass, and being destructive to the cat worm. During wet weather, overhaul and repair tools and implements; if not already done, get out and store away under shelter, a good supply of timber suitable for such purposes. Keep the pit-saws going, which can only be done economically where a good roomy shed has been built for the purpose and a supply of logs hewed and hauled. Make and hang gates; bars are an intolerable nuisance. Repair buildings and erect new ones. The gin-house should be cleaned out and repaired immediately
after the crop is baled; clean thoroughly and oil the machinery, gin-stand, press, etc. Put a close cover of brown sheeting over the gin-stand, to keep out the dust. If any repairs or alterations are needed, now is the best time to have them done.
The women [slave women?] may be profitably and advantageously
employed, during wet and unpleasant weather, at the wheel, the
spinning-machine and the loom. Live-stock must have attention, by
affording proper shelter and supplying food at regular hours. Work animals, if they have been well cared for, will not be fat; try and keep them so, which connot be done without the daily personal attention of the planter or overseer....Ewes about to drop lambs, need shelter and nutritious food; and particlularly during cold, wet weather.
Plant out Cauliflower, Cabbage and Lettuce from the beds into which they were pricked early in the fall....Sow Cabbage and Lettuce; also Peas, Radishes, Parsnips, Beets, Carrots, Turnips, Salsafy, Spinage, Parsley, Sweet herbs, etc. Plant Early Corn, Irish Potatoes, Horse-radish and Artichokes. Onions, either young plants from beds sowed in August, or dry sets....Celery should be earthed up during dry weather as often as required, which will be once a fortnight. Endive may be tied up for blanching, gathering the leaves neatly together, without bruising, and tying with a little moss loosely twisted. If
Artichokes and Asparagus beds have not yet been dressed, they had
better be attended to at once, though now late. It is gnerally
supposed that vegetables do not require hoeing and tending, thus
early in the season, which is a mistake--the ground should be
stirred about them, so soon as they are large enough to admit of it. The ground alloted to Melons, Cucumbers, Okra, etc, should be turned over, to clean and mellow it.
Plantation Garden.--This important part of the plantation should
occupy a few acres, say from two to ten, of good land, under
substantial fence. A liberal annual dressing of manure must be
given, even though the soil be naturally rich. Cow-penning, in
successive lots, keeping off the cattle when the ground is wet, is a good plan for manuring, and one commonly practiced. Lay off the garden so as to be tended solely with the plow, cultivator and hoe. Early in the month, plant Irish Potatoes. Throw up sharp ridges with the plow, about thirty inches from ridge to ridge; spread three or four inches of half-rotten corn-stalks, crop-grass, or other trash; throw a light furrow on the trash and plant. The Potatoes may be cut into pieces, containg two or four eyes; drop eight inches apart, and cover first with a little of the same half-rotten trash, and on that an inch or two of soil. So soon as the young shoots show themselves, break out the middles with the plow, following with the hoes, drawing two or three inches of earth over the budding shoots,finishing off in a flatish ridge. They will require and should have no further tending, except keeping down the weeds with the hand or the hoe....Bed Sweet Potatoes--see February. Sow Mustard, Turnips,
Cabbage, Beets; and, a bed which can be protected from frost, sow
Peppers, Tomatoes, etc. Divide and plant Shaollots, Garlic, Horse-radish, Sage and other herbs.
The fruit garden and orchard--...confirming our faith in the
possibility of growing there, cearly all of the fine fruits grown in outher countries, together with not a few others peculiar to our own latitude; and convincing us still more fully, of the necessity for acclimation or re-habituation before successful results need be expected.
Continue to transplant all kinds of fruit trees and shrubs, and
prepare for transplanting where not already done. With this view,
accumulate manure, bones, lime-rubbish or marl, oyster shells,
ashes, soot, etc., all of which are excellent for fruits.
It is acknowledged by all old residents of Texas, that the last
three seasons have been most trying upon all crops. A sufficient
amount of rain has not fallen during the winter months; so that many springs, hitherto supposed to be permanent, have gone dry...the summers have also been unusually dry, with a great prevalence of south-west parching winds. And killing frosts have, each season, cut off crops, many weeks later than such frosts are ever looked for in these latitudes.
Rather than type this out verbatum I'm going to paraphrase. If you
wish the full text, let me know off list.
At this point he now discusses various fruits. Pears did well. Apples as far south as Hempstead produced beautiful summer fruit. Quince was also planted. Peach, nectarine, almond, apricot, plum, and pomegranate all bear well. Cherry grows well and he had strawberries until the 15th of June.
Copied from Texas Civilian Yahoo list. Posted January 2008 by Debbie Russell.
Annette, Where was he doing the growing? I am interested in the fact he had cherries.
Copied from Texas Civilian Yahoo list. Posted January 2008 by Annette Bethke
His nurseries were in Washington County. He does not
say exactly where he planted the cherries.
It is certainly to be looked upon as a misfortune when the cotton
crop has not all been gathered, if not also baled and sent to
market, before the close of the year....Keep the plow in motion,
whenever the weather and the state of the soil will permit. Frost
may correct the bad effects of plowing, when the soil is too wet;
but do not trust to that when avoidable. By a timely beginning, an opportunity may be had for stirring up the water-furrow with a stout bull-tongue, drawn by two horses, previous to turning the first two furrows on it; the good effects of which will show themselves through the whole season. During dry weather, haul out and distribute manure and composts, to be spread as the plowing advances. Cotton seed, intended for manuring thin hill lands, may be composted in some hollow or nook of bottom-land, where there is a deposit of rich earth; mix intimately as it is hauled out. Manure is generally best applied broadcast; the roots of plants find it as they need it. Beat down cotton-stalks and chop corn-stalks short, so that the plow may cover them up. Under no circumstances burn the latter; nor the former unless very large....
No labor upon the plantation is better bestowed, than that which is applied to drawing the heavy cover of crab or crop-grass, pea-vine and corn-stalk, into the water furrow, with the hoes, early in the winter, and immediately casting a heavy furrow upon it. Cut and roll logs; and, after burning them, carefully pile up the ashes and burnt earth, as an excellent manure for young corn--giving it a start over the grass, and being destructive to the cat worm. During wet weather, overhaul and repair tools and implements; if not already done, get out and store away under shelter, a good supply of timber suitable for such purposes. Keep the pit-saws going, which can only be done economically where a good roomy shed has been built for the purpose and a supply of logs hewed and hauled. Make and hang gates; bars are an intolerable nuisance. Repair buildings and erect new ones. The gin-house should be cleaned out and repaired immediately
after the crop is baled; clean thoroughly and oil the machinery, gin-stand, press, etc. Put a close cover of brown sheeting over the gin-stand, to keep out the dust. If any repairs or alterations are needed, now is the best time to have them done.
The women [slave women?] may be profitably and advantageously
employed, during wet and unpleasant weather, at the wheel, the
spinning-machine and the loom. Live-stock must have attention, by
affording proper shelter and supplying food at regular hours. Work animals, if they have been well cared for, will not be fat; try and keep them so, which connot be done without the daily personal attention of the planter or overseer....Ewes about to drop lambs, need shelter and nutritious food; and particlularly during cold, wet weather.
Plant out Cauliflower, Cabbage and Lettuce from the beds into which they were pricked early in the fall....Sow Cabbage and Lettuce; also Peas, Radishes, Parsnips, Beets, Carrots, Turnips, Salsafy, Spinage, Parsley, Sweet herbs, etc. Plant Early Corn, Irish Potatoes, Horse-radish and Artichokes. Onions, either young plants from beds sowed in August, or dry sets....Celery should be earthed up during dry weather as often as required, which will be once a fortnight. Endive may be tied up for blanching, gathering the leaves neatly together, without bruising, and tying with a little moss loosely twisted. If
Artichokes and Asparagus beds have not yet been dressed, they had
better be attended to at once, though now late. It is gnerally
supposed that vegetables do not require hoeing and tending, thus
early in the season, which is a mistake--the ground should be
stirred about them, so soon as they are large enough to admit of it. The ground alloted to Melons, Cucumbers, Okra, etc, should be turned over, to clean and mellow it.
Plantation Garden.--This important part of the plantation should
occupy a few acres, say from two to ten, of good land, under
substantial fence. A liberal annual dressing of manure must be
given, even though the soil be naturally rich. Cow-penning, in
successive lots, keeping off the cattle when the ground is wet, is a good plan for manuring, and one commonly practiced. Lay off the garden so as to be tended solely with the plow, cultivator and hoe. Early in the month, plant Irish Potatoes. Throw up sharp ridges with the plow, about thirty inches from ridge to ridge; spread three or four inches of half-rotten corn-stalks, crop-grass, or other trash; throw a light furrow on the trash and plant. The Potatoes may be cut into pieces, containg two or four eyes; drop eight inches apart, and cover first with a little of the same half-rotten trash, and on that an inch or two of soil. So soon as the young shoots show themselves, break out the middles with the plow, following with the hoes, drawing two or three inches of earth over the budding shoots,finishing off in a flatish ridge. They will require and should have no further tending, except keeping down the weeds with the hand or the hoe....Bed Sweet Potatoes--see February. Sow Mustard, Turnips,
Cabbage, Beets; and, a bed which can be protected from frost, sow
Peppers, Tomatoes, etc. Divide and plant Shaollots, Garlic, Horse-radish, Sage and other herbs.
The fruit garden and orchard--...confirming our faith in the
possibility of growing there, cearly all of the fine fruits grown in outher countries, together with not a few others peculiar to our own latitude; and convincing us still more fully, of the necessity for acclimation or re-habituation before successful results need be expected.
Continue to transplant all kinds of fruit trees and shrubs, and
prepare for transplanting where not already done. With this view,
accumulate manure, bones, lime-rubbish or marl, oyster shells,
ashes, soot, etc., all of which are excellent for fruits.
It is acknowledged by all old residents of Texas, that the last
three seasons have been most trying upon all crops. A sufficient
amount of rain has not fallen during the winter months; so that many springs, hitherto supposed to be permanent, have gone dry...the summers have also been unusually dry, with a great prevalence of south-west parching winds. And killing frosts have, each season, cut off crops, many weeks later than such frosts are ever looked for in these latitudes.
Rather than type this out verbatum I'm going to paraphrase. If you
wish the full text, let me know off list.
At this point he now discusses various fruits. Pears did well. Apples as far south as Hempstead produced beautiful summer fruit. Quince was also planted. Peach, nectarine, almond, apricot, plum, and pomegranate all bear well. Cherry grows well and he had strawberries until the 15th of June.
Copied from Texas Civilian Yahoo list. Posted January 2008 by Debbie Russell.
Annette, Where was he doing the growing? I am interested in the fact he had cherries.
Copied from Texas Civilian Yahoo list. Posted January 2008 by Annette Bethke
His nurseries were in Washington County. He does not
say exactly where he planted the cherries.
