tdgirl, welcome to the forums. I hope you will enjoy all of the great forums under the homesteadingtoday umbrella.
Old agriculture books? Have I ever got a neat old agriculture book for you. In 1867 my gg grandfather had published Dorsett's Treatise on Agriculture which is considered an important enough work that it is one of the Making of America books. It is even a work placed in the Egyptian National Agricultural Library.
You can find it in its entirety at:
http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text...R0652.0001.001
If you wish to own a copy they as well as booksellers have it available as reprints.
For a little background on Dorsett--Born in Maine and eventually moved to Sangamon County, IL where he and Abraham Lincoln became known to each other. While it has never been verified, family tradition told that Lincoln offered him the position as the first head of an agriculture agency for the US Government. Lincoln was killed before his taking office and not caring for Johnson he refused to serve under the appointment.
After many decades of farming he moved his family to Chicago and operated a green grocer store which basically means a produce store that also supplied fresh commodities such as cream, butter, eggs, and milk. For a Chicago exposition his business offered monetary prizes.
He was a co-owner of a patent for a pipe coating to prevent oxidation, owner of an improved boot jack, and for a grain/hay drying system.
His family experienced losses during the great fire of Chicago in 1871.
While an interesting book to read I'm sure most of it is outdated for todays use. Yet, one never knows what they might gain from reading it.
Again, welcome. Windy in Kansas
