"Knee High by the 4th of July!"
I'm guessing this old saying is one that most of you have heard hundreds of times...but, if it's new to you, here's a little background.
It's said the first time farmers began using this phrase was in 1846...
"It has been considered that if corn was knee high
by the Fourth of July that the crop was sure and safe."
~Iowa Sumner Gazette, 1846
And so for the last 177 years, it's been a ruler to measure just how bountiful the harvest will be...the corn crop should reach the height of a farmer's knee by Independence Day, July 4.
As a Midwesterner, the phrase "knee-high by the fourth of July" is one I have heard all my life. However, (and we're a tall family) I have just one question...
7 feet, 11 inches
Just exactly whose knee is this tall?!
Ha!!! I wonder?!?! I hope you are having a lovely summer, my friend. It has not been very hot here in Pennsylvania, so we are still waiting for the swim in the lake days! But, we are inching closer to our cozy months!
ReplyDeleteLove the old sayings! Yes, not too hot here either...a little warm (as I'm a fall/winter gal) but it's really not bad at all...fingers crossed it stays this way. A jump in the late on a hot summer day sounds terrific...enjoy every minute!
DeleteDoes that mean an early crop?
ReplyDeleteCathy
Not so much an early crop, as a crop that's survived the sometimes crazy spring weather after planting (freezing temps, snow, too much rain, not enough rain, etc.) Those things could kill the crop. If a farmer needs to replant, then there's the risk the crop will be ready to harvest too late in the year possibly destroyed by freezing temps and/or snow. However, it all looks good to me this year, I'd say it should be a great harvest season!
DeleteI have heard from both sides of my family knee high by the 4th of July for corn too here in Michigan. In fact driving through Ohio last Friday, I mentioned this saying to Bob as we passed some corn fields down there. BTW what town do you live down there. We might have been close to you...maybe. We were in Medina and Seville and other smal towns near there. Janice
ReplyDeleteHi Janice, love that you just said it, too! We're about 1-1/2 hours from Medina/Seville. Oh if you'd have been close, and had plenty of time, I'd definitely tried to meet - but I know you were on a whirlwind getaway. By the way, you really brought home some terrific things - I'm envious of that table!
DeleteWow! That's fantastic!! Mine is a 5'5" knee-high. 😁
ReplyDeleteMaybe just the difference between field corn and sweet corn...yours will be delicious on the dinner table, while this will be delicious to livestock!
DeleteMy granddad had just about every "saying" I thought possible...but, I have to admit, I have never heard that one! Hooray for abundant crops though!!
ReplyDeleteMaybe a regional saying? They make me smile...I think sometimes those old sayings are way wiser than all our modern ways!
ReplyDeleteI planted mine late. And it is most definitely not yet knee high. X
ReplyDeleteI was late in planting my garden too...but still, when it comes to harvest, there will be nothing like homegrown! I'm looking forward to seeing what your garden looks like - right now, I have only 1 jalapeno...things are moving slowly!
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