Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-10-10
Erom Lhe Montg ,merg a. M.Ll.


From the montg ,mery (Ala) Mi.
PeabOdy's Farm in RUSSELL Comfy.
Who that has 'read the papers, during the
lest f-w years, does not feel desire TO visit
the Enchanted Farm of CHARLES A PEABODY.
Esq. Being in Columbus, Ga, on SATURDAY.
last, friend IL formed Us that he was going to
Mr.. Peabody's, and that there was vacant
seat in his buggy. Jumping at the chance,
we jumned into the buggy AT O'Clock. a. IN.
and at o'clock we pulled M AZ the farm,
which is about five miles WV. from Column
bus, on the Alabama 81 le of the river We
were met and welcomed bv Mr. Peabody in
front of q large and councillors mansion IN
dergong the finishing process, recently erected
for him by Messrs. morton 81 BARRENGER,
Builders, OF Columbus. IJ is tastefully ar
ranged building, in the most approved style OF
modern architecture-the cOrinthian pillars
supporting full length piazz4s on the east and
south, giving an imposing appearance TO the
structure from the approaches. The internal
arrangements are compete-the dining apar' =
ment parlor bed room and bath, on the floor
above the basement, b=ng approached by a
wide hall or as our friend whispered, wide
enough for eight fashionably dressed ladies
abreast TO promenade. The basement is de-
signed TO remain perfectly dry at all seasons,
and The rooms convenien ly arranged for beds,
or any other purpose. The third story is de-
signed fr bed rooms princi paly, with a very
Convenient bathroom attached. Aqueducts
are worked in the walls # the bcilding, which
are to be supplied with water raised from a
well by the power Of a windmill. Mr. Pea
body is a practical man, in every sense of the
word, and we did not express to him our doubts
about the success of the windmill arrange
meptf, but we may say here behind his back
that he will he fortunate if 10 should not prove
& source of much annoyance and perplexity.
Mr.. PEABODY then conducted us through his
Straw berry Beds-the famous "Hautboy" and
the "HOvey Seeding" These of course are
not bearing, in this dry season of the year,
but the Imagination pictures how beautiful
must be the spectacle they present in the
spring and summer, If rains are abundant, or
when the beds are otherwise cOpiOusly water
ed. Did the reader ever see an acre OF straw
berries in full bearing2 Let him visit this
farm at the proper season, and his eyes will be
Toasted with view of several acres, and his
palate thrown into ecstacies.
We next visited field Of twenty five acres
of newly cleared pine sandy land, on which
had been bestowed To each acre a sack of gu
ano, or about 160ib5 One grain, or kernel,
Of the ''Proltc Corn" is planted in each hill,
from which springs a main stalk and from two
to three "ullers," usually called suckers"
Tie tillers are allowed to grow with the main
stalk, and each bears from two TO three ears
of corn We found, usually, six to nine ears
to the hill, and sometimes more. In one hill
We counted eighteen ears, in an adj tcent field
which had been long in cultivation.
Mr.. p. expects to gather from the first nam
ed field 90 To 100 bushels to the acre. He will
probably contend for prizs before the State
Fair IN November nexr, with the products of
this field, and any one " no has seen il cannot
doubt that the prize will be awarded to him,
uDless some other planter, whose keen foresight
has induced him to plant the same kind of
seed on better land, enters the arena in oppo-
sirion. A Barbour county planter recently
visife ed Mr. F., ard admitted that fifty acres
of The prolific corn" which he there saw,
would produce more than 400 acres OF his
own, which was gro wing luxuriantly from II
TO 10 feet high.
Now if the Peabody Corn produces so well
on the poorest lands OF tie State, what would
he tie result on our best corn lands, when
skilliully cultivated? Or if it produces better
on the poor lands, which surely is not the case
what AN immense number Of bnSl els would
be added To the annual corn crop, if even the
poorer lands were sowed in the prolific corn2'
Suppose that only ten bushels per acre were
added TO the present yield OF the corn lands
in the United Statts-iust multiply the num-
Der of acres suppose 10 be cultivated in corn,
by 10, and see the result. II the adoption of
tie prolific corn were general, three fOurths
of the land now set apart for corn, il is fair 10
say, might he turned iuto cotton, and the pos
sibiliiy of future short crops OF cotton would
be entirely removed.
The culture Of Il rofc corn" and "Chinese
Sugar Cane must Uecome general at All early
period, and when ibis l. accomplished, may
We not bid defiance tothe Liverpool produce
markets, snG snap our fingers at "the whole
world aid the rest Of mankindW
We have omitted 10 mention that Mr.. p.
does not strip the leaves frJin his maturing
corn, but allows them u return to the soil
with the stalks. BY this means the ears ma
ture better.
We have not space to mention the MINOR
crops OF this farm, and many other objects Of
interest connected Herewith.
Breakfast announced, and we were met
at the threshold by Mrs. Peabody and one of
her fair daughters. Mr.. aud Mrs. P. have nine
children, some of them grown, and yet the
visitor Is amazed at the lingering bloom Of
youth presented in the appearance of the
p rents; indeed they seem To be but in the
prime of life. II is probably accounted for
by their having resided uineteen years on these
sand-hils, which has enabled them to escape
the services OF the doctors.
Having been introduced, we were ushered
to a teeming breakfast table, where a profus-
ion OF edibles, in great variety, was spread,
and nearly all ot which was produced on the
farm. We must waive particulars, only say
ing that the betf-steaks and butter, for excel
leuce, were such as is seldom met with in
Alabama, or at least in our portion of the
State.
breakfast over, we were very instructively
entertained for an hour by Mr.. F. and his very
intelligent lady, in pleasant conversation,
when our cO-yisitor signited that it was time
to return TO the city. We babe adieu to our
kind entertainers, with promise " TO return
in strawberry time" We betook ourselves TO
the vehicle aud in few minutes the hospita-
BILE mansion of the best farmer and horticul-
turist IN the Southern country was left behind
Us, among the sandy pine hills OF Russell.
About mile from this farm we saw fields
of corn, on the same description of land, titled
after the old fashion. None of the hills pro-
duced more than one ear of corn. and some
none ut all. Is not this striking contrasts
We are aware of the difficulty OF causing peo-
pie to believe these seemingly exJr4vagant
statements, but we have seen, aud know what
we have written 10 be true.
Heath of Maj. VemabIe.
correspondent OF the AZ Y Express, in a let.