First Things

Consider agricultural theory of the past: Plows made of iron
poisoned the soil … riding sulky plows put excessive strain on
animals … cast iron was too brittle to be used in plow shares.

Given the advanced technology of modern agriculture in
everything from hybrids to equipment, how can we possibly imagine
what life was like for a farmer in 1850 or 1900? We’re intrigued,
impressed even, by early mechanical ingenuity, but for a farmer 150
years ago, ingenuity for its own sake was of no value: It had to
produce. It was a matter of sheer survival.

Articles in this issue, though, focus not so much on the plow’s
invention as on its impact. In everything from patent law to the
domestic economy, from fire prevention to legal boundaries, the
lowly walking plow was a key player in American history.

Village blacksmiths had front-row seats in that production,
building and repairing and sharpening plows. But their talents were
not limited to such work. They were hometown artisans, crafting
whatever was needed in rural America, from farm equipment to
household goods. In this issue you’ll meet Dave and Janet Tempest,
collectors of a variety of rare wrought iron items. Dave is a fan
of the blacksmith’s craft, and his collection reflects the artistry
and ingenuity typical of the smith’s one-of-a-kind creations.

The unique mechanisms of these devices (and of others that were
manufactured commercially more than 100 years ago) are fascinating,
even if they weren’t always effective. “There never was a cherry
seeder that worked right,” Dave muses. That’s certainly been my
experience, speaking as a baker horrified to see more than 50 pits
come forth from a single pie baked with last summer’s handpicked
cherries pitted using a modern mechanical device. The more things
change, it seems, the more they don’t!

Leslie McManus, Editor
lmcmanus@ogdenpubs.com