The American Agriculturalist

Designed to Improve All Classes Interested in Soil Culture

Including the Farmer, Gardener, Fruit Grower, Planter, Stock Breeder, etc.

Conducting Editors: A. B. Allen and Orange Judd, A. M.

Some years ago I happened upon a tattered old digest from 1853, originally published weekly by Allen & Co., 189 Water St. New-York. It was literally falling apart and had to be held together in a file folder. But thumbing through the pages I was drawn in by the seed variety names and the market prices of the time, and the personality and humor that shone through the years since passed. Across the banner-head of each front page is a quote from George Washington: “Agriculture is the most healthy, the most useful, and the most noble employment of man.” We pick up from December 7th, 1853. Some of the early articles may be fragmentary, having been continuations from a previous issue. Along the way I’ll be keeping track of seed varieties and tabulations of market prices and share those findings. For now, please enjoy from selected readings themselves.

THE WAY TO HAVE GOOD BACON.—Salt your meat in a good cask; put salt sufficient on each layer to cover it; three or four days after, make a brine as strong as can be made, in boiling water; skim the brine while making; when cool, cover the meat with it, and keep it under the brine six weeks; then let it drain a few minutes, and rub thoroughly with black pepper ground fine, (the finer the better,) hang and smoke until your bacon is well cured. If it hangs in the smoke house twelve months, you need have no fears of bogs or skippers.—Prairie Farmer.