The title is from a line in a traditional poem (1841) by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, The Village Blacksmith. "Under a spreading chestnut-tree, The village smithy stands; The smith, a mighty man is he, With large and sinewy hands."
This is the first Looney Tunes short to feature the song "Porky Signature" by M.K. Jerome as the opening theme music.
"Bad-Year Rubber" was a riff on Good-Year Rubber.