USA > Tennessee > Williamson County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc. Vol. 1 > Part 28
USA > Tennessee > Maury County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc. Vol. 1 > Part 28
USA > Tennessee > Rutherford County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc. Vol. 1 > Part 28
USA > Tennessee > Wilson County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc. Vol. 1 > Part 28
USA > Tennessee > Bedford County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc. Vol. 1 > Part 28
USA > Tennessee > Marshall County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc. Vol. 1 > Part 28
USA > Tennessee > History of Tennessee from the earliest time to the present , together with an historical and a biographical sketch of from twenty-five to thirty counties of east Tennessee, besides a valuable fund of notes, original observations, reminiscences, etc., etc. V. 1 > Part 28
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244
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
Another indigeneous perennial grass is known as nimble will. On limestone lands where the forest has been thinned out, it grows up to the height of about fifteen inches and forms a dense mat, affording good pasturage for five or six months in the year.
White clover is a spontaneous growth over nearly the entire State, and is luxuriant in limestone soils. Next to blue-grass it is one of the most valuable grazing plants, and is to the pasture what red clover is to the meadow. It is a hardy perennial, and withstands drouth and con- stant grazing.
Crab-grass is an annual of some value for fall pasturage, but is a troublesome pest among growing crops, especially during wet seasons. When the farm is kept under a rotation of crops, however, and tilled only once in four or five years, the crab-grass is soon exterminated and better grasses take its place.
In addition to the crops already mentioned there are grown in partic- ular localities hemp, broom corn, flax, sorghum and rice. All the garden vegetables are raised in abundance. Poas, beans, onions, lettuce, cab- bage, turnips, radishes, salsify, celery, cucumbers, butterbeans, toma- toes, squashes, melons, carrots, beets, egg-plant, asparagus and many oth- ers are found in almost every garden.
The cultivation of hemp is chiefly confined to the counties of East Tennessee. The total crop in the State for 1859 was 2,243 tons, of which Claiborne County produced nearly one-half. The other counties produc- ing it in any considerable quantities during that year were Greene, Haw- kins, Cannon and Anderson. In 1869 Hancock County ranked first and Johnson second, the crops for these counties being 290 and 207 tons respectively. The census reports for 1880 show no return from the hemp crop in Tennessee.
The raising of flax is also confined mainly to East Tennessee, and its production in that locality is somewhat decreased. In 1859 the State produced 164,294 pounds of fibre and 9,362 bushels of seed. The reports for 1879 show a total production of only 19,601 pounds of fibre, and 787 bushels of seed, Claiborne County ranking first, having produced nearly one-fourth of the entire amount.
Sorghum is now grown in considerable quantities in every county of the State. Since its introduction about thirty years ago, the production of the staple has steadily and rapidly increased, and it is now one of the most valuable crops raised. The entire production of sorghum for 1859 amounted to 706,663 gallons. The counties producing the greatest quantities were Knox, 51,027 gallons; Blount, 38,594; MeMinn, 27,252, and Washington, 26,898. In 1879 the State produced 3,776,212 gallons.
245
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
Lincoln County ranked first with a production of 142,357 gallons, and Maury County second, with a production of 137,195 gallons. Wilson, Giles and Rutherford each produced more than 100,000 gallons.
Some maple sugar is also produced in many counties of the State, although the bulk of it is furnished by East Tennessee. In 1859 there was produced 115,620 pounds of sugar and 74,372 gallons of molasses, of which latter article Sevier County produced more than one-half.
In 1879 only 31,296 pounds of sugar and 3,688 gallons of molasses were produced, Grainger County ranking first and Fentress County sec- ond in sugar with a production of 3,040 and 2,415 pounds respectively. Wilson County ranked first, and Sullivan County second, in the produc- tion of molasses.
There has never been sufficient attention paid by the farmers of Ten- nessee to the preservation of the fertility of the soil. Land has, hith- erto, been so easily obtained that, leaving the future out of consideration, it has been cheaper to buy new land than to preserve the old. But the spirit of improvement which, during the past twenty years, has man- ifested itself in every industry in the South, has developed better systems of cultivation, and a more intelligent appreciation of the value of fertil- izers. All the stable manure and other refuse matter upon the farm is now carefully saved by the best farmers, and is returned to the field for the benefit of the future crops. On account of the small amount of stock kept upon the average farm, the supply of stable manure is insufficient, and recourse to other fertilizers becomes necessary. Of the green crops used for this purpose, here as nearly everywhere else, clover holds the leading place. As there is but little land in the State that will not pro- duce clover, no difficulty is experienced in preserving the fertility of the soil, and in restoring fertility where it has already been impaired. The native or southern pea is also used to some extent as a fertilizer. Recently the use of artificial or commercial fertilizers has been intro- duced, and is rapidly becoming general. They are more largely used in the cultivation of tobacco and wheat than any other crop. The amount of these fertilizers used in the State in 1885 was estimated at from 10,000 to 12,000 tons, as against about 3,000 tons in 1882. The most extensive fertilizer manufactory in the State is the National Fertilizer Company, with headquarters at Nashville. The company was organized in 1882 with D. C. Scales as president, and W. G. Sadler as secretary and superintendent. Their factory is located about three miles from the town, and has a capacity of 10,000 tons per annum. About 25 per cent of these products are sold in Tennessee, the remainder being distributed among the other Southern States. The bone phosphate which forms the
246
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
base of their fertilizer is obtained from the phosphate rock beds of South Carolina. The chemical substances, with the exception of sulphuric acid, are imported from Europe. The company manufacture all of the latter substance which they use. It is generated by the action of acids upon what is commonly known as "iron pyrites," which contains about 45 per cent of sulphur. The rock containing the pyrites is obtained in quantities of several hundred tons at a time, from the quarries of Georgia, Illinois and Wisconsin. The Memphis Fertilizer Company utilizes the refuse . from the cotton-seed oil mills as cotton-seed hull ashes and cotton-seed meal, which, when mixed with acid phosphates, make an excellent fertil- izer, especially for cotton. There are also two or three firms in the State engaged in the manufacture of pure bone dust.
Tennessee, taking the twelfth rank in the sisterhood of States in the number of her population, aggregating 1,542,359, according to the last census, takes the thirteenth position in point of the value of her live- stock upon farms, aggregating in value $43,651,470. With only 8,496,556 acres of improved land, there is about one-third of the area of the entire State, or a little more than five acres to each inhabitant, actu- ally available and employed. According to the tenth census there are for each 100 acres eighty so employed; only three horses, three and sixth- tenths milch cows, five and six-tenths of all other cattle, eight sheep and twenty-five swine. Considering the vast area unemployed and unre- claimed, embracing as it does much of the best lands of the State for the production of the cereals and cultivated grasses, together with the magnifi- cent climate and admirably watered valleys, so well adapted to stock- growing, notwithstanding the aggregate value of live-stock making a large item in the wealth of the State, the percentage appears very low when compared with her real capacity for the development of this great interest. But the State is yearly attracting greater attention among those engaged in stock raising, and she is certainly destined to occupy a foremost place in this most important branch of husbandry.
Tennessee, while possessing fewer horses according to population than many other States, is second to none in the fine quality of this kind of stock. For the past three-quarters of a century this branch of stock hus- · bandry, has received the attention of many of the most enlightened minds of the State, whose time, means and zeal have been devoted to the pro- duction of the highest type of the equine race. As early as 1790 many good horses were brought into East Tennessee, and through the influence of Gen. Jackson, who was one of the leaders of the turf, many of them were afterward brought to Middle Tennessee. Since that time some of the finest imported horses ever brought to this country have been owned
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247
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
in the State, and in the hands of skillful breeders have made Tennessee horses renowned throughout America. Although a few central counties, as Davidson, Sumner, Giles, Maury, Rutherford and others, have hitherto devoted the greatest amount of attention to the breeding of the finest horses, there are many counties which vie with them in the number and value of their stock. In 1880 there were fourteen counties of the State owning over 5,000 horses, Wilson with 9,166 ranking first, and Ruther- ford with 9,005 occupying the second place. These figures include only the horses owned upon farms. Not so much attention has been paid to the heavy draft horse as to the roadster, the high prices obtained for the latter making it more profitable to the breeder.
The mules raised in the State are nearly equal in number to the horses, and many of the States further south look to Tennessee for their supply of these animals. In 1880 Maury County owned 8,301 mules; Shelby, 7,094; Wilson, 6,336; Fentress, 5,602, and six other counties between 4,000 and 5,000 each.
Next in importance, if second to any other, is the cattle interest of the State. Yet, if the natural advantages and capabilities of the State are taken into consideration, this branch of stock husbandry is developed to a very limited extent. During the war this interest suffered more severely than almost any other, and it has required nearly two decades to recover from its effects. In 1860 the number of cattle of all kinds in the State aggregated 784,732; in 1870, 607,038, and in 1880, 783,634; an increase over 1860 of less than 20,000. The improvement in quality, however, has been great. Notwithstanding, some few of the improved breeds of cattle were introduced as early as 1834 by importations from England and elsewhere, nothing like a general interest was manifested in the introduction of improved breeds, or for the general distribution of the more economic and valuable variety of cattle, until within the last two decades. Since the war, however, the spirit of improvement has awak- ened the farmers of the State to a higher appreciation than was ever before had of the superiority of good stock over bad or indifferent. Many very valuable Short Horns have been brought into Middle and West Tennessee from Kentucky, and the Lime-stone Basin has become noted for its good cattle. In East Tennessee several very promising herds of Jerseys have been introduced into various sections of the valley, and the interest in stock-breeding is fast becoming general. Some excellent herds of Ayrshires, Devons and Holsteins are owned in various parts of the State, but the greatest number are found in the middle divis- ion. In the rougher and more mountainous regions, the native breeds, on account of their natural hardiness and endurance, will undoubtedly continue to be raised more largely than any other.
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248
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
There is no State in the Union that in climate, physical features, and productions excels Tennessee in the proportion of her territory adapted. to the successful prosecution of the important industry of wool-growing. The vast plateaus and extensive ridges and valleys of the eastern division of the State seem almost to have been formed especially for the production of wool, while the table-lands of the middle and western division are scarcely to be excelled for grazing purposes. Notwithstanding these great natural advantages, the aggregate number of sheep in Tennessee accord- ing to the last census was only 673,117, a decrease of 204,666 in ten years. This diminution in the number of sheep kept is largely owing to the fact that there is practically no legal protection for the property of the flock owner from the ravages of vicious dogs. Many sheep are annually killed by these depredators, and farmers are thereby discour- aged from what would otherwise be one of the most profitable depart- ments of husbandry. But while the number of sheep in the State has largely decreased, it is probable that the valuation of the flocks is fully equal to, if it does not exceed, that of ten years ago. This improvement in the quality of the stock is evidenced by the fact that although the num- ber of sheep in 1880 was one-fourth less than in 1870, the wool clip of the former year exceeded in amount that produced in 1870 by nearly one-half. The pioneer in the breeding of fine sheep in Tennessee was Mark R. Cockrill, of Davidson County. At the great London exhibition held in 1849-50, where every nation in the world was represented, he was awarded the grand medal for the finest specimen of wool exhibited. Af- ter making a careful study of the wool of every country, he fearlessly maintained that the peculiar climate and soil and protecting agencies of Tennessee, would make it the best wool-growing region under the sun. and he proved it by wresting the premium for the finest fleece from the assembled wool-growers of the world. Yet with this example before them. the majority of farmers, if they raised any sheep at all, were content with the half-wild animal which may still be found roaming at large in somo sections of the State. In late years, however, many counties have introduced in addition to the Merino, the Cotswold, Southdown and Lei- cester, all of which have proved profitable.
The adaptation of the soil of Tennessee to Indian corn renders it one peculiarly fitted for the growth of swine, and in 1850 she took first rank as a hog-growing State. The following figures show the number of hogs reported in the State at the beginning of each decade from 1840. 1840, 2,926,607; 1850, 3,104,800; 1860, 2,347,321; 1870, 1,828,690; 1880, 2,160,495. This industry became well nigh annihilated during the civil war, but owing to the rapid reproduction of this animal, the State is now
249
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
producing as many hogs as in 1860. Swine are probably more suscepti- ble of rapid improvement, by judicious care and breeding, than almost any other class of domestic animals. Hence in renewing their herds, many of the more enterprising farmers, recognizing the importance of introducing improved breeds, made large importations of Berkshires, Poland China, Essex, Jersey Reds, and other standard varieties. These importations have since continued, and such is the perfection to which the hogs of the State are bred, it is questionable if finer specimens are to be found in any other portion of the United States, or in Europe.
More or less poultry is raised or allowed to breed on all farms in Tennessee, but as a general rule the fowls receive but little attention. In East Tennessee, however, the raising of poultry for market is growing into an industry of considerable importance. The value of this interest is usually under-estimated. In 1880 there were over 16,000,000 dozen eggs produced, and the number of fowls in the State exceeded 5,000,000.
The natural aptitude of the soils of Tennessee for the production of valuable grasses has already been noticed. That it has natural ad- vantages for the economical production of butter and cheese would almost follow as a necessary consequence. Yet so little have the dairy interests been developed that in 1879 Tennessee, compared with the other States of the Union, stood fourteenth in the amount of butter made upon farms, and twenty-third in the production of cheese, while in the amount of milk sold to butter and cheese factories she stood the twenty-fifth, the amount being only 1,006,795 gallons. With natural advantages equal to those of the great dairy States, New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio, Tennessee has not until very recently produced butter and cheese in sufficient quantities to supply the home demand. Within the past few years, however, the establishment of creameries has given the industry a decided impetus, and in many counties, it bids fair to become the most profitable branch of husbandry. The Tennessee Creamery Company, with headquarters in Nashville, and operating in Middle Tennessee, has done much toward the development of the dairy business in that section. The prices paid for milk by these creameries are fully one-third more than are paid in New York and Pennsylvania, yet they are able to com- pete successfully in the markets with the butter makers of any other State. The following was written by a well known authority upon the subject: "Tennessee has many eminent advantages as a dairy State. It can make butter as cheap or cheaper than any other State, because good grazing Jands are cheaper; because it is the most southern Stato that grows a variety of grasses and forage plants; because the climate is mild, and cows have access for a longer period to those succulent grasses
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250
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
which are so promotive of the heavy flood of milk, and consequently winter dairies can be carried on for a greater length of time." That the dairy interests of Tennessee are rapidly advancing is evident from the fact that the butter production for 1879 was double that of 1869, and it is safe to say that the increase during the present decade will be corre- spondingly great.
From the first settling of the State it has been the custom of a large majority of the farmers to secure a few colonies of bees as a necessary adjunct to a well stocked farm, but it was not until the introduction of improved hives, artificial swarming, movable combs and extractors that it was pursued as a separate vocation. At present there are many per- sons who engage in this business almost exclusively, and whose profits are satisfactory. In the year 1850 the number of pounds of bees-wax and honey reported for Tennessee was 1,036,572; in 1860, the amount of bees-was was 98,882 pounds, and of honey, 1,519,390 pounds; in 1870, 51,685 pounds of bees-wax, and 1,039,550 pounds of honey. The decrease for 1870 is doubtless due to the effect of the war. In 1SSO the amount of honey reported was 2,130,689 pounds, and of wax 86,421 pounds, which places Tennessee first among the States of the Union in apiarian products. These results are due not only to the increased number of bees kept, but to the improved methods of handling them and to the introduction of Italian bees, which were first brought into the State in the year 1866. Tennessee has the best climate and the greatest variety of food for bees of any State, having all the forage plants of both the North and the South, while it has some that are not found in either. The climate, too, is especially adapted to bee culture, being a medium one with mild and short winters and agreeable summers.
Perhaps no industry in Tennessee has made greater advancement in the past twenty years than that of grape growing, the admirable adapta- tion of the soil and climate to which was in a great measure unknown or neglected until since the close of the war. One of the first efforts to grow grapes in the State was made by P. F. Tavel, a Swiss, who came to Stewart County in 1844. The varieties he planted being imported failed to do well, and the attempt was abandoned under the impression that the climate was not propitious for the culture of the fruit. Some ten years later a few enterprising persons in various parts of the State, after in- specting the vineyards around Cincinnati, were induced to plant a few vines of the Isabella and Catawba varieties. Among these early pioneers in grape growing were James Clark and Rebecca Dudley, of Montgom- ery County, who, long before wine making in Tennessee was thought possible, planted and successfully managed several acres of vines, and
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HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
made wine that by reason of its excellence and flavor soon became famous throughout the country. The varieties they planted, however, were not suited to the latitude, and the frequent failures of their vineyards in- duced the belief that Tennessee could never be made a grape growing . State. For a time they even were discouraged, but eventually came to the conclusion that the failures arose rather from the unsuitableness of the varieties than from the nature of the location, soil or climate. Act- ing upon this belief some new kinds, among which were the Ives Seedling and Concord, were planted and were found to thrive so well that the old vineyards were abandoned. Since that time grapes have been very suc- cessfully and profitably grown in nearly every section of the State. Several different varieties are planted, but for wine the two above named predominate.
From the days of the earliest settlers, even among the Indians, excel- lent apples have been grown in Tennessee, and there is scarcely a county in the State that, with proper cultivation, will not produce them abun- dantly. The most favorable localities for apples, as well as other of the larger fruits, are the river lands of Middle Tennessee, the great plateau of West Tennessee and the hillsides of the eastern division. These localities are equal to the most favored regions of New York and Pennsylvania. Until within the past few years the raising of apples has been mainly confined to the supply for domestic purposes. Most of the old orchards are stocked with native varieties, but new and improved late varieties are now being introduced, and the acreage of orchards is rapidly increasing. Several extensive orchards have recently been planted on the river lands in Rob- . ertson County, and also by the Ruby community, in Morgan County.
Of the cultivated berries the strawberry is the most largely raised, and it grows with vigor and productiveness in every portion of the State. The planting and crops of these berries in the vicinity of Chattanooga is said to have doubled annually for the past five years. The shipments of them for the season of 1882 aggregated 143,822 pounds; for the sea- son of 1884, 457.846 pounds, and for the season of 1885, 814,574 pounds. Nearly all portions of West Tennessee, but more especially the northern counties, are unsurpassed for the production of this fruit, and large and annually increasing quantities are shipped to the cities of the North. With the advantages of soil, climate and transportation facilities the possibili- ties of this business are unlimited.
The cultivation of raspberries, blackberries and dew-berries has not been extensively engaged in on account of the luxuriance and perfection with which they grow in the wild state. Berries of the finest flavor and of large size grow wild along the fence-rows, in "old fields" and in the
252
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
forest. For the production of all kinds of small fruits Tennessee stands superior to any other State in the Union.
From the following lists of exports* from Madison County for 1884 some idea of the extent of the fruit growing industry in West Tennessee may be obtained: Apples, 8,000 barrels; pears, 3,000 barrels ; peaches, 2,500 crates ; plums, 550 crates; strawberries, 22,000 crates; other fruits, 10,000 crates.
The shipments from Chattanooga for the same season were, in pounds: Peaches, plums, and pears, 86,115; blackberries, 208,20S; rasp- berries, 2,465; strawberries, 457,816; and grapes, 16,733. The shipment of peaches for the season of 1885 amounted to 446,266 pounds.
CENSUS REPORTS OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION WITH THE RELATIVE RANK OF TENNESSEE.
1840.
1850.
1860.
1870.
1880.
PRODUCTS.
Amount Rank
Amount
Rank
Amount
Rank
Amount
Rank
Amount
Rank '
( Bushels)
6
1,619,386|
13
5,459,268
13
6,188,916|
13
7.331,353
18
Corn ..
11,986,188.
1
52,276,223
5
52,089,926
6
41,343,614
7
62,764,429
9
Oats ..
7,035,678
6
7,703,086
S
2,267.814;
17
4,513,315
13
4,722,190
16
Rye ....
304,320
12
89,137
15
257,989
16
223,335
17
156,419
21
Barley
4,809
21
2,737
24
25,114
21
75,0681
22
30.019
29
Buck wheat.
17,118
15
19,427
18
14.481.
24
77,437
16
33,434
21
Irish Potatoes.
1,904,370
2,777,716
2,604,672
6
1,205,683
S
2,369,901
5
( Pounds)
(Bales)
5
296,464
8
181,842
8
330,621
9
Tobacco.
29,550.432
3
20,148,932
4
43,448,097|
3
21,465,452;
3
29,365,052
5
Hay
31,233
74,091
21
143,499
22
116,552
24
186,638'
26
Butter
8,139,585
11
10,017,787
15
9,571,069
13
17,886,359
14
Cheese
177,681
19
135,575:
142,240
18
95.740
22
Honey.
+1,036,572
1
1,519,300:
5
1,039,550;
5
2,130,689
1
Maple Sugar ...
153,557
14
115.620
17
134,968
18
31,296
20
Maple Molasses.
74,372
9
4,843
18
-3,68S
18
706,663
6
1,254,701
6
3,776,212
2
Value
of Orchard
Products.
$52 894
19
$305,003
18
$571,520
21
$919,844
16
Horses.
341,409
5
270,636
290,882
9
247,254
11
265,113
14
Mules and Asses
75,303
1
126,335
1
102,903
2
173,498,
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