1895 - Sacaline, Sacaline...Prettiest Forage I've Ever Seen...

Sacaline was originally adopted from Japan as an ornamental.  Its common name now is Giant Knotweed, and like it smaller cousin, Japanese Knotweed, is considered an invasive species in many places.  

The story of how it morphed from exotic ornamental to the farmers dream forage is interesting.  Sacaline was discovered by a Russian explorer on an island between Russia and Japan.  Then around 1869 it was discovered by gardeners in a Russian botanical garden where its impressive size and foliage was hard not to notice!  As an ornamental foliage plant it was exported to many countries.   
 A horrendous drought in Europe in 1893 starved a large number of animals.  It was noticed that Sacaline (Polygonum sachalinense) with its deep roots survived well and was eagerly eaten by cattle.  The French agriculturists advertised this  and by 1894 Sacaline was being promoted by seed companies as a wonder plant, a farmer's dream forage for difficult land and drought.

I noticed Scaline because of this engraving by A. Blanc's workshop.  Blanc is one of my favorite botanical artist engravers.  This page is from the 1895 Huntington Seed Company catalog.  

After you read the seedman's description it is interesting to read testimonials from people who tried to grow it from seed!!

To read the bottom of the page go to 1895 Huntington Seed Company 

From a report of the California Agricultural Experiment Station 1896:

Wm. H. Hilton, Glen Ellen, Sonoma County.—Sacaline seeds were planted in a sandy sediment loam; the seeds came up, but were eaten off by the stock as fast as they appeared.

O. Hummeltenberg, Santa Clara, Santa Clara County.—Sacaline, after transplanting,
grew to be a foot high, but died down in autumn.  Since then the plants sprouted again, butthe cold weather has cut them down again, and I do not know whether they will grow again or not. I do not think it will become a pest on our place.

H. E. Brown, St. Helena, Napa County.—I raised some fine plants of Sacaline and planted some on gravel, some on adobe, some on hard dry land, some on wet land, and some on good loam.  All died.

S. H. Haskell, Portersville, Tulare County.—Sacaline plants were sunburnt pretty badly.

A. B. Leckenby, Bakersfield, Kern County —...is easily propagated from its numerous rhizomes, but seeds sparingly, if at all. Polygonum sachalinense with us appears to be less valuable than the two species mentioned.  Our experience is limited to one large plant received from the University. The foliage is very sensitive to frost, and it is evidently poorly adapted to our soil.

J. A. Girard, Cauucos, San Luis Obispo County—One dozen plants of Saghalin polygonum, with abundance of water, now cover a space about sixteen feet square. I intend, with the seed I shall gather, to experiment on dry and waste land. '

C. B. Blain, La Canada, Los Angeles County.—Saghalin polygonum seed germinated very poorly, but the few plants I have, are doing nicely.

Mrs. Theresa Keys, Alhambra, Los Angeles County.—Sacaline seeds came up very well, better than I feared from what I had read of the difficulty in starting them. I have not transplanted them yet; fearing to do so till after the rains come, as I want to put them on the edge of the arroyo in poor, sandy soil. I am afraid to put them on better land, for fear it might be a troublesome root to get out. Think it will be fine to hold the bank when the water tears down the arroyo in the winter; also, the stock can get it.

W L. Hall, Cerritos Ranch, Nordho , Ventura County.—The Sacaline seed that I got last year did not come up for me, and a few I gave a friend came up, but soon died out.

1893 - The Huntington Seed Co., Indianapolis

The Huntington Seed Co. is something of a mystery to me.  

I can't find much information on any of these Huntingtons, their community involvement, or even obituaries.  That sort of thing usually pops up if you just keep rephrasing queries...but it didn't. 

The following article I did find gives a good outline of their business without saying much.

They bought a great proportion of their seeds, but their catalogs seem to say they raise some of their own and the illustration on their invoices shows a farm.











Their catalogs always lead with strategies to engage the buyer, such as free books with purchase, and this contest below.

Love their  invoice design though! 

This following piece was in Indianapolis Illustrated : the capital city of Indiana : its growth, resources, commerce, manufacturing interests, financial institutions, and prospects, also sketches of the leading business concerns which contribute to the city's progress and prosperity : a complete history of the city from foundation to the present time

F. C. Huntington & Co.  

   Indianapolis stands second to no city in the union as regards great establishments devoted to the staple branches of trade. In many lines she leads, and notably so in that of the trade in choice garden and farm seeds, bulbs, etc., for in this department no house has achieved a more enviable reputation than that of Messrs F. C. Huntington & Co., 66 East Washington street. 

The business was founded in 1880 by Mr. J. F. Mendenhall at 78 and 80 East Market street. A flourishing trade was developed with growing connections and in August 1886 the business was purchased by Messrs. F. C. and J. T. Huntington.   
Under the existing style and title of F. C. Huntington & Co. the officers are as follows F. P. Huntington president, J. T. Huntington treasurer, T. V. Page, secretary.  

(So where is F. C. in the company?? From The Huntington Family in America, 1915, I found his name, Forest Conwell Huntington, born March 25, 1866, and it said he was a seedsman.  Now if he is the same F. C., he was 20 when he bought Mendenhall's seed business.  That makes me think J. T. was older. )

These gentlemen brought to bear special qualifications for carrying on the business including a wide range of practical experience thorough knowledge of the wants of the trade and ample energy and enterprise to push their goods all over the United States. 

On January 1, 1893 they removed from East Market street to their present desirable premises, 66 East Washington street, 22 x 196 feet in dimensions, and comprising two floors and basement.  Here they carry full lines of garden and farm seeds flower seeds imported bulbs and plants also the highest grade of commercial fertilizers.  

They are large growers of garden and farm seeds and secure special high-class seed all strictly fresh, free from impurities and warranted to produce heavily and give entire satisfaction. They are notably progressive and enterprising and each year bring out new and desirable varieties of vegetables which give an increased return to the grower. 

They are direct importers of the rarest foreign bulbs and seeds from Holland, Germany, France and Spain. Every year a member of the firm goes to Europe to make purchases and personally selects from the stocks of the leading growers of Europe.  Besides seeds and bulbs the firm carry a complete line of garden lawn and greenhouse implements, garden and farm tools, poultry supplies, cattle and horse foods, while they make a specialty of the most reliable fertilizers.

Their trade extends all over the United States and a staff of sixteen clerks and salesmen are kept busy in the establishment, while several men are required on the road. The Messrs. Huntington are natives of Indianapolis, universally popular and respected, and are active members of the board of trade and the Odd Fellows Order.  Theirs is one of the leading seed warehouses in theUnited States and has developed its immense trade and influential connections strictly on the basis of merit.  Purchases of seeds here invariably giving entire satisfaction. Those desirous of making selections should send for their handsome illustrated descriptive catalogue which gives full details of all the new varieties with a great deal of additional instructive matter.

1901 - Smile!, It's a Vegetable Peach!

F. C. Huntington and Company's illustration for the Vegetable Peach field made me smile.  

I posted on the Vegetable Peach of A. T. Cook early last year as his illustrations are even goofier!  

Information on the melon's use today is also there.  
(Yes, it is a melon!)




I really do have to try growing these for fun.  Maybe I could give seeds to my neighbor who has the room.

 I need a garden allotment!!  My own garden is small, hacked out of a hill into a terrace.  We don't have allotments here though.

Consider the perspective in this engraving :-)  How big ARE those melons in the back??