Hardeman's Garden

Boon's Lick Sketches No. 18 May 14, 1938.

Hardeman's Garden
Part II

    John Hardeman describes the fertility of the Boon's Lick soil and the results of his horticultural experiments in a letter to Thomas Hart Benton dated November of 1822.

    The information is of present day interest in connection with the Soil conservation Program of 1938 in which the Government requires an appraisal of every farm as to its inherent and its present productivity. Hardeman's letter strikingly describes what Boon's Lick bottom land produced when first cultivated and how well it deserved the frontier comment that it was so rich that if you planted crow bars at night they would sprout ten-penny nails by morning.

    "Sir: Agreeable to your request, I have forwarded to you some of the largest specimens of plants which have been reared in my garden this year, with a few others of two years growth. You will bear in mind that I have not traveled for these samples out of my own garden, which was laid out on the poorest part of my land, and on which there has not a particle of manure been spread. It is rich, sandy loam, contains, for vines and other small fruits etc., eleven acres, and has too great a portion of sand in my estimation....."

    "That our county is incomparably rich in its products of corn, wheat, and such articles as are generally raised in the Western countries, I believe has never yet been disputed, and I need not particularize them...But the cotton: I raised about 1200 lbs. In the seed, per acre, this year...It is the opinion of some men that a certain number of days is necessary to perfect a vegetable in any soil or situation, and that cotton, being a native of a southern country, where the seasons are long, in which this plant grows, it cannot be brought to maturity in ours...I planted my cotton about the 28th of April; a drought was then prevailing here, and it continued until the 30th of May, at which time a rain fell. In a few of the first days of June my cotton came up; on the 16th of August it began to open; and the field was picked over on the last days of August..."

    "I planted some Indian corn on the first day of May. On the 9th of June it was in silk; on the 15th of July it was ripe. I planted some of the new corn which was then ripe enough for the purpose, on the 10th of July; on the 11th of August it was in silk, on the 10th of September it was in silk; on the 1st of October it was ripe. Thus, in 61 days I have perfected a generation of Mandan corn."

"CLARK'S CHAPEL HISTORIC GARDEN"  proposed by the newly-formed John Hardeman Society, would be built over an existing illegal dump site , near Clark's Chapel Gravel Road, and northwest of that rural church and southwest Howard County.  Paths would curve through displays of historic plants of the Boonslick Region.  Plaques would give both Latin and common names.  A historic marker or fountain would be at the center surrounded by benches.   Ground-breaking is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sept 20th, after the conclusion of the Santa Fe Trail Day activities in New Franklin. (Sketch by Brian Mahieu for the Society).

The Fayette Advertiser.  Wednesday, August 27, 1997. Volume 157, Number 52,

Uplinked 03/25/10