SEPTEMBER-1857 & 1858-Farmer's Calendar Excerpts

#50

-1857-

“Music, there music!” Ay, boy, the music of the flail and cider-mill, you mean. Well, John, let’s put things in order, that we may give them the farmer’s concert. Let the cider-mill scream the treble; Caleb and Jo shall slam-bang the tenor with their flails; neighbor Flatstall’s bull will keep up the fundamental bass; while Ben Bluster will halloo the counter, with kid up, old Dobbin! Whoa, gee, Spark! Come in there, Berry! All together now, I say!   

Collect your apples, and be sure to house them until they become mellow, that your cider may be rich in flavor and in color. Some will insist that slovens make the best cider, and also that sluts make the best butter and cheese. But I cannot possibly be made to believe that decayed apples add to the excellence of good cider, of which I am very fond—to say nothing of pure cider vinegar, without chemicals—and I hope my lovely dairy maids will excuse me for saying that I dare venture to hazard a guess a little snuff, dropped ever so delicately into the churn and cheese-tub, though it may enrich the color, “by no manner or means” can brighten the flavor of your milk-meats.

[Thomas’s Farmer's Almanac]

-1858-

If there is a widow in your neighborhood, or a poor, hard-working family, whose homestead is necessarily bare of the comforts of your orchard and garden, be sure that you do not forget them. Remember, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Meanwhile, let cheerful gratitude mark your manner daily. You know not the power of kind, inspiriting words, falling like the golden sunshine upon young hearts. Such are the things which write pleasant memories for years when you shall be sleeping.

[Leavitt’s Farmer's Almanac]

-1858-

It is about time now to sow your winter grain—get good seed. Now gather pears, just before ripe, to ripen in the house; also apples, as they fall—and if you do not want them for cider, they are worth full as much for vinegar, or for fattening your hogs. Let none lie on the ground, for the grubs in them go into the earth, and will breed hosts next year. Cut your corn stalks as soon as the kernel is out of the milk. Gather your peas and beans.

[Thomas’s Farmer's Almanac]

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"Pure cider vinegar without chemicals" in 1857?  What an interesting comment. I would have thought all cider vinegar back then was made without chemicals. 

If you would like to make your own wholesome cider vinegar without chemicals, be sure to check out my online cidermaking photo tutorial. It so happens that cider vinegar is very easy to make and my family will soon have several gallons of it merrily fermenting itself into existence up on the usual shelf in our home.

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And the 1858 advice about inspiriting words falling like golden sunshine on young hearts is a beautiful bit of wisdom, don't you think?.

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