Nunquam minus solus, quam cum solus. - Cicero

This sentence requires a corollary:

Never less alone than when alone.
Never more active than when doing nothing.

An AQQ

See: Etidorhpa Chapter 2: "Never less alone than when alone."

Kentucky Agriculture: Boone County

Settlement in Kentucky is intimately related to agriculture. The earliest explorers were interested in hunting, but those that followed were invariably looking for lands to cultivate. The pioneers did not like trees, at least not large forests full of trees, and they set to work to clear the countryside as soon as possible. The clearing of the trees was all done with the ax, and with fire, at an enormous cost in labour. Trees were something to be gotten rid of. They were unproductive, and could not be used for crops until the clearing was done. In addition they might hide lurking Indians. Though settlers may have contemplated the beauty of these primeval forests they did not let this hinder them in their prime objective: They loved to see large expanses of cleared land in crops and pastures.

Along the banks of the Ohio River, in the alluvial flood plains, lies the largest amount of prime cropland in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The only area that can match it is the inner Bluegrass. Boone County, with more than forty miles of river shoreline, one of the longest in the state, offered a quantity of such land as a prime attraction to early settlers. Even today these river bottom lands have the highest yields of corn per acre any where in the nation. It was not long before all of these lands were claimed. The lands at Big Bone, though claimed early, include very few acres of this prime land; most of what there is lies in narrower strips along Big Bone and Mud Lick creeks.

Aside from the flood plains Boone County falls into two distinct sections based on soil type: These sections are the eastern and western, and this has had a huge impact on settlement and agriculture in Boone County, for the best lands (excepting the river areas) were furthest from the river, which meant difficulties in transportation. Picture a wavy line running roughly down the center of the county, with a single band running along the Ohio River: this band is considered to be 75 to 100 percent prime. To the east the land is considered to be between 25 to 50 percent prime, which means that the land is considered suitable for cultivation. To the west the land is considered less than 25 percent prime, which means that it is considered suitable for pasture for stock, and occasional cultivation, and it is in this area that most of the land at Big Bone falls. The soil is mostly composed of silty clay, and the steepness of most of the land means that the top soil is but a shallow layer in most places. Most of it is marginal agricultural land. Its best use would be as woodland and pasture, with some intermixture of crops on the most suitable land.

This is an Archival Quality Communication

Life in a Log Cabin

De Tocqueville writes of the inside of a typical cabin:

"We entered the log house: the inside is quite unlike that of the cottages of the peasantry of Europe; it contains more that is superfluous, less that is necessary. A single window with a muslin curtain, on a hearth of trodden clay an immense fire, which lights the whole interior; above the hearth, a good rifle, a deerskin, and plumes of eagles' feathers; on the right hand of the chimney, a map of the United States, raised and shaken by the wind through the crannies in the wall; near the map, on a shelf formed of a roughly hewn plank, a few volumes of books: a Bible, the first six books of Milton, and two of Shakespeare's plays; along the wall, trunks instead of closets; in the center of the room, a rude table, with legs of green wood with the bark still on them, looking as if they grew out of the ground on which they stood; but on this table a teapot of British china, silver spoons, cracked teacups, and some newspapers."

My Visit to Old Boone (1903)

The following article was published in the Boone County Recorder 14 Jan 1903 page 1 col. 5. It was written by Daisy Belle Rouse of Milan, Indiana, and tells of her recent visit to Burlington, our county seat. It gives a glimpse of the way our county was viewed at that time by at least one visitor who lived in the north:

From Christmas until New Year’s, I spent a delightful vacation in old Boone and to say that I had an enjoyable time, would be expressing it too mildly. For of all the places I have ever been, I have never yet found more fun or hospitality than in Boone. I fully agree with the “editor of the Union Blade,” that no where on earth can these delightful peculiarities be found except in “Old Kentucky.” No State can excel her in sociability and the art of entertaining. While over there I was honored by invitations to several turkey dinners, which to me, were very enjoyable and unique.

On Sunday I spent the day at Mr. Will Clore’s; Monday, at Mr. Lineas Kelly’s, and on Wednesday at Mr. Chas. Kelly’s. Three more delightful day, I never spent, and never did I find more entertaining hosts and hostesses.

One amusing feature, to me, was “horse back riding” and as it was something new to me, I enjoyed it very much and saw some rugged yet beautiful country. The old Parson’s mill had an attraction for me, it brought to my mind these lines,

“Nestled down in the snowy hills

It stood in silence dark and grim,

A structure in ruins and sad decay,

That frailer grew as the years grew dim.”

Then after sampling some of Mr. Parson’s “chewing gum” and viewing his neat little store, our gay little party turned our horses homeward. I especially, feel amply repaid for my ride over the hills.

I also had the pleasure of calling on the Misses Cook, and meeting many of Boone’s young people, that every one should feel honored to become acquainted with. As far as my visit at Mr. Doc Clore’s is concerned, Well, there is no need of me giving an account of that, for every one knows “Cousin Doc” and his family to be one of the best and most entertaining in the county.
The 2d of Jan. I returned home. My ride on the “Swan” was enjoyable and as the hills of “Old Kentucky” faded into a dim outline, against which the mist above the water nestled in shadowy folds, I took one last look at them, sincerely hoping that before many months I may again visit that enchanting region, called “Old Boone.”

Daisy Belle Rouse, Milan, Ind.

Copied 12 December 2007

I cannot verify the source of the poetry.