Ohio History Journal

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SEED HUMBUGGERY AMONG THE WESTERN FARMERS,

SEED HUMBUGGERY AMONG THE WESTERN FARMERS,

1850-1888*

by EARL W. HAYTER

Professor of Social Sciences, Northern Illinois State Teachers College

The development of American agriculture as it unfolded from

the pioneer subsistence level to that of a diversified enterprise was

marked by the general characteristic of change-change from old

practices to new ones. There were several factors responsible for

this inconstancy, one of which was a growing necessity for differ-

ent varieties of seeds and plants. Agriculturists in each new settle-

ment soon found it expedient to explore and experiment, for old

seeds degenerated after a few years of repeated planting and it

became necessary to change in order to secure profitable results.

The demand for new seeds also developed from the exigencies of

the environment, for there were variations in soil, in climate and

topography, and in problems of transportation and storage as well

as changes in the dietary habits of people and animals both at home

and abroad. Moreover, agriculturists were motivated by national

interests; following the European wars of the eighteenth century

the American people turned more to a policy of economic inde-

pendence, and as a result a greater incentive was made to pro-

duce and develop agricultural products here at home. With an

expanding market it was natural that different sections of the

country would turn to new crops and methods, thus giving rise to

improvements and innovations. Futhermore, the growing economic

disparity of the farmer with that of American industry which

developed after the Civil War, forced the farmers to be more will-

ing and ready to make changes in order that they might survive

better in the highly competitive economy that became increasingly

more severe during the latter half of the past century.

By 1860 there was a noticeable change in the Ohio Valley in

regard to the practices of farming; instead of a one-crop system

 

* The material used in this article was obtained in connection with a larger

investigation which was made possible by a Social Science Research Council grant-

in-aid.

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