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Period: to
Farmers, Agriculture, and Populism, 1860-1900
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Hand power tools to horses
Change from hand power to horses characterizes the first American agricultural revolution. This makes work faster, and easier for the farmer. Production of goods moves a lot quicker, and the quantity is larger. -
Barbed Wire
Glidden barbed wire patented; fencing of rangeland ends era of unrestricted, open-range grazing. Catttle is more organized, but still free to move around. -
Refridgerated Freight Cart
The first long haul shipment of a refrigerated freight car was made from California to New York. Perishable items were now able to travel aross the country, while remaining fresh. -
Consumer Fertilizer
Average annual consumption of commercial fertilizer; 1,845,900 tons -
Labor Hours
40-50 labor-hours required to produce 100 bushels (5 acres) of wheat with gang plow, seeder, harrow, binder, thresher, wagons, and horses; 35-40 labor-hours required to produce 100 bushels (2 1/2 acres) of corn with 2-bottom gang plow, disk and peg-tooth harrow, and 2-row planter -
Populist Party is Established
It was most important in 1892-96, then rapidly faded away. Based among poor, white cotton farmers in the South (especially North Carolina, Alabama, and Texas) and hard-pressed wheat farmers in the plains states (especially Kansas and Nebraska), it represented a radical crusading form of agrarianism and hostility to banks, railroads, and elites generally. It sometimes formed coalitions with labor unions -
Commercial Fertilizer
Average annual consumption of commercial fertilizer 3,738,300 tons -
George Washington Carver
George Washington Carver of Tuskegee Institute finds new uses for peanuts, sweet potatoes, and soybeans, helping to diversify southern agriculture
