Agricultural Events

The growing use of factory-made agricultural machinery increased the farmers’ need for cash and encouraged commercial farming.

1840 — Justos Liebig’s Organic Chemistry appeared

1840–1850 — New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio were the chief wheat States

1840–1860 — Hereford, Ayrshire, Galloway, Jersey, and Holstein cattle were imported and bred

1840–1860 — Growth in manufacturing brought many laborsaving devices to the farm home

1840–1860 — Rural housing improved with use of balloon-frame construction

1840 — Total population: 17,069,453; Farm population: 9,012,000 (estimated), Farmers made up 69% of labor force

1840 — 3,000 miles of railroad track had been constructed

1841 — Practical grain drill patented

1841 — Preemption Act gave squatters first rights to buy land

1842 — First grain elevator, Buffalo, NY

1844 — Practical mowing machine patented

1844 — Success of the telegraph revolutionized communications

1845 — Mail volume increased as postage rated lowered

1845–1853 — Texas, Oregon, the Mexican cession, and the Gadsden Purchase were added to the Union

1845–1855 — The potato famine in Ireland and the German Revolution of 1848 greatly increased immigration

1845–1857 — Plank road movement

1846 — First herd book for Shorthorn cattle

1849 — First poultry exhibition in the United States

1847 — Irrigation began in Utah

1849 — Mixed chemical fertilizers sold commercially

1849 — Goldrush