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??

1892 - Lush Lithograph Showing Why We Plant Tulips

Ah...  how could anyone resist  John Lewis Childs' Fall Bulb Catalog?   We plant them because they can be awesome!

 I love those little dots....

 And just in case, like me, you wonder about the name "Bizard"

A Dictionary of Modern Gardening - Page 671 - Google Books Result

https://books.google.com/books?id=io5hAAAAcAAJ

George William Johnson - 1846 - ‎Gardening

It will be observed, that tulips are divided into different classes, and as the characteristics ... A Bizard tulip has a yellow ground, and coloured marks on its petals.

1877 - "Household Elegancies" Made From Seeds

Dreadful, aren't they?   I wonder how many exist today.  I suspect they have fallen prey to mice, or just fallen apart.   But so much work!!  

Then again, as a child and adult project it is rather nice.  Little ones get to admire the beans and keep their hands busy, the adult can finish it off.  In case you don't care to read how to make these, note that fresh beans were used so they are easily pierced by a tapestry needle.  In 1877 fresh beans with interesting patterns were more likely to be available to families. 

 1877 is an interesting time as it is at the starting point in agriculture where fewer people were needed to provide for the growing population due to machinery.  In 1850, more than 60% of people were on the farm.  In 1880 or a bit after it was more like 26% feeding a much larger population.

Household Elegancies: Suggestions in Household Art and Tasteful Home Decorations

By Mrs. C. S. Jones, Henry T. Williams

 

The following article appeared some years later and explains how to make some of the same items.

At first I thought they were the same illustrations, but they are not.

1884 - The young ladies' treasure book: A complete cyclopædia of practical instruction and direction for all indoor and outdoor occupations and amusements suitable to young ladies

Nut And Seed Work.

THE beauty of some seeds and nuts has caused ingenious persons to form them into objects of use. In pursuing this work, we would advise our friends to purchase many varieties of beans, and cultivate them with a view to appropriating them to fancy work; for of the exceeding beauty of some of these seeds, few persons, comparatively, have the remotest conception. 

Some of them are as beautifully mottled, spotted, marbled, and painted as the most elegant 

I think these are the acorn and white bead chains used to make fern holders.

mosaic-work, while their symmetrical form and highly enameled surface render them well adapted for the purpose of forming chain-work of every description.
 Many nuts, too, such as the horse-chestnut, have shells of such beauty, and capable of taking such a fine polish, that when arranged tastefully they appear like highly finished wood-carvings.

 Acorns may be made the medium of holding ferns in a variety of ways, either in a room, or, still better, in a greenhouse, or small window-garden, opening, perhaps, out of a back parlour or drawing-room.

The acorns are soft when new, and a hole may be readily made by slipping through them a large twine packing-needle. Thread them on wire—a large, round cut white-glass bead between every one.

Vase of Coloured Beans.

A vase we shall here describe may be made of any coloured or sized beans desired; but in selecting the beads which are to be combined with them, care must be taken to produce a tasteful combination.

The beans being soft when newly gathered, holes are easily pierced through them. Thread them through these holes on a wire, with a large round glass bead between each one.

Make first a ring for the bottom of the urn or vase, and another for the top, stringing the beans and beads upon them. The wire should be as thick as a large sized knitting needle. 

After making two circles for the top and bottom, form the sides by turning a hook over on the end of the wire and fastening it to the top ring, between the beans.  Pinch the wire close, with pliers, to conceal the joint. Thread this with the beans, etc., until it is sufficiently long to form the ribs of the vase, as shown in Fig. at A; to cross at the narrow part, to form the swelling part of the vase, B, and fasten again to the lower ring. This wire is then cut off with "tin-shears," and the other part formed in the same way, and both are then crossed by another, diagonally. 

If the urn is large, there may be two of these on each side, making six equal sides to the urn instead of four. Where they cross at the narrow part of the vase, bind them well together with fine zephyr or thread. These bindings must not show, and fine thread-wire is better than other material for fastening.

 Bend the six pieces into proper shape, by giving a regular and graceful curve ; join the wire to one of them, and carry it round the widest part of the urn, joining it with fine wire to every part where it crosses. Next put in the upper Vandykes, fastening the strung wires as before. The handles are rings of the beans and beads attached to each side, as shown in the illustration.

The beans should be of uniform size for each separate part, and the same number between each corresponding division; for instance, the bottom ring may contain thirty large beans, and the central circle fifty of medium size; then the divisions reaching between these should contain small ones, perhaps, but they must be alike in size and number. So also the Vandykes. 

Fill the vase with moss, green side out, and pack soil in the centre, in which plant ferns, etc. The effect of the moss against the beautifully coloured basket is lovely, and the crystal beads glisten out of the green like so many dew-drops.

 On page 139 (the above hanging fern basket) we show a hanging basket made of the nuts of the acorn, arranged in a similar manner. The acorn-nut should be held in the cup by means of the wire, and the beads for this should be either the crystal or opaque white, and of the size of a pea. Handles, made of rings of wire, are first strung with the acorns and beads, from which tassels of beads depend; one is also arranged at the bottom, and from the supports at the point where the three are joined.

1892 - Litho Surfing on a John Lewis Childs' Fall Bulb Catalog

You can't beat a lithographed catalog for luxuriant surfaces.

Your attention can slide down the sweeps of color, twirl around a curlicue, and wipe out with a plop in the center of a blossom! 

Love it!!!
 
 

1891 - All Hail King Pumpkin

  

Goodness... 

What can I say?  
The poet's own phrase "necromancy keen" sort of sums this poem up!

Good Housekeeping - 1891