One Row Corn Planter, circa 1855

Summary

Farmers planted corn in hills during the 19th century. That started a year-round effort to raise food for livestock and farm family. Some used single-row planters like this. Then they cultivated with a shovel plow until corn was knee-high. They then planted squash or pumpkins to keep down weeds and retain moisture (a form of double cropping). At harvest they husked ears (to feed pigs) and shocked stalks (to feed cattle).

Farmers planted corn in hills during the 19th century. That started a year-round effort to raise food for livestock and farm family. Some used single-row planters like this. Then they cultivated with a shovel plow until corn was knee-high. They then planted squash or pumpkins to keep down weeds and retain moisture (a form of double cropping). At harvest they husked ears (to feed pigs) and shocked stalks (to feed cattle).

Artifact

Corn planter

Date Made

circa 1855

Creators

Bachelder, Lorenzo 

Bachelder, Samuel H. 

Place of Creation

United States, New Hampshire, Hampstead 

United States, Massachusetts, Haverhill 

Creator Notes

Attributed to a design by Lorenzo Bachelder of Hampstead, New Hampshire and Samuel H. Bachelder of Haverhill, Massachusetts

Greenfield Village
 On Exhibit

at Greenfield Village in Soybean Lab Agricultural Gallery

Object ID

00.3.13404

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Wood (Plant material)
Iron (Metal)

Dimensions

Width: 24 in

Length: 72 in

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