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Archiver > NJHUNTER > 2003-02 > 1045417456


From: "Robert H. Smith" <>
Subject: Re: [NJHUNTER] Harvest times
Date: Sun, 16 Feb 2003 12:44:16 -0500
References: <002e01c2d47e$9f89c810$71a03a41@D3D2Y211>


Great, great writeup! I really wasn't interested in the question until
I read the answers....... Thanks Bill!
----- Original Message -----
From: "William Hartman" <>
To: <>
Sent: Friday, February 14, 2003 6:13 PM
Subject: Re: [NJHUNTER] Harvest times


> John, I'll take an educated guess based on my '20th Century'
agricultural background!
>
> If Winter Wheat, July give or take; same with Rye, Buckwheat, Oats,
and Barley. Straw comes from these plants and is taken after the seeds
have been harvested - so it follows shortly thereafter.
>
> Today, Hay is usually three times but that is with modern cutting
and baling equipment. And also if there is good rainfall throughout
the season. Back then, they may have gotten 2 crops: the first in May
or June after the Spring rains and perhaps in the fall. I have seen
nothing in the Hunterdon Gazette to confirm this.
>
> Peas (for human consumption) are a Spring crop and if planted in
March or early April could be harvested in June and July.
> Peas for animals are a full season crop and I would guess may be
ready (dried on the vine) Aug. or Sept.
>
> Beans require warm weather and are not planted until after frost
which is generally late April. Human type: 60-day-beans could be ready
late June or early July and then until frost if a succession of
plantings are made. Beans for the seed are harvested later when the
seeds are mature. Soybeans to my knowledge where not grown back in the
1800s, they came in from the Orient. They require a full season and
are not harvested until after the Fall frost.
>
> Turnips and carrots are root crops and again are tolerant of frost
so they can be planted in March or April. Depending on how big you
want the crop and whether or not they are for human or animal feeding,
you can harvest edible sized roots in June and until after the last
Fall frost.
>
> Pears grow on trees and in Hunterdon, my pears are ready to eat late
August and into September. There may be other varieties with slightly
earlier and later maturation dates.
>
> Grapes grow on vines and again can vary as to harvest but I believe
late August into September are the general times of harvest.
>
> You didn't mention Apples and peaches which were both grown
extensively back in those days in Hunterdon. The apples were generally
used for cider and apple jack - an alcoholic drink very popular back
then. If you have the Hunterdon Gazette CD, nearly every farm for sale
noted an "Apple Orchard of select grafted trees" sometimes numbering
around 100 trees with other fruit. Peaches were a very big business
later in the 1800s until the diseases ruined the fruit. Both apples
and peaches have various maturation times but generally not before
July, although today you can get some early peaches to mature in that
month. Some apples generally produce until frost.
>
> How's that?
>
> Regards, Bill
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: john newman
> To:
> Sent: Friday, February 14, 2003 3:26 PM
> Subject: [NJHUNTER] Harvest times
>
>
>
> Does anyone know when Hunterdon County harvest time is for the
following:
>
> Wheat
>
> Rye
>
> Oats
>
> Buckwheat,
>
> Barley,
>
> Hay,
>
> Straw,
>
> Peas and beans,
>
> Turnips and carrots,
>
> pears,
>
> grapes,
>
> These items are some, not all, of the items listed in the 1875
state census. They were listed separate and apart from the normal
census info; this was a section just for farming and animals.
>
> - john
>
>
>
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