John Janney
Farming
Corn
Ground was plowed for the corn crop in the early spring by horse drawing plows. The general rule was and acre of corn for each member of the family. John does not mention how many acres were cultivated in corn. The fields were prepared by hilling it in 3 foot squared about 4" to 5" high and then the corn was planted into each of the squares. When the corn was ready, wagons went up and down the rows, pulled the ears off the stalks and threw them into the wagon. The ears were husked and stored in the corn crib. The husks were fed to the sheep and cattle.
Wheat
Once the corn was harvested, the field was plowed for the following year's wheat crop and manure from the barnyard was spread over the poorer sections. The Janney family raised 15 acres of wheat. The men would go out into the fields with a bag of wheat seed and sow handfuls of seed. A harrow was dragged across the field to bury the seeds.
Once the wheat was harvested by hand, it was dried in bundles and brought back to the barn. Wheat was thrashed (removing the seeds) on the barn floor by having horses walk over top of it. The straw or shaft of the wheat was raked up and fed to the livestock. The seeds were swept up and taken to the local miller. The miller gave credit to the Janney family according to the amount of bushels they brought in. When the family neede floor they would go back to the miller and use their credit.
Field Hands
Extra hands were hired for the harvest season and children stayed home from school to help. Work in the fields lasted from sun up to sun down. In the late morning the women and young girls would bring dinner out to the fields.
Other Crops
Janney farm raised buckwheat, rye and flax. The rye was used for consumption by humans as well as livestock. Janney writes that rye straw was cut up, ground rye seed mixed with it and fed to the horses in the summer or on long journeys.
A small flax patch was kept to supply the Janneys with a source of linen cloth. Flax was processed during the winter months (see note book for the processing of flax.)
Other Farm Work
Wood
Once the crops were brought in the men went out a chopped, as Janney stated, 50-cords of wood for the winter months.
