Smyrna times., 1862-05-29
A Fine Agricultural District.


In company with a friend, few days since.
We had the pleasure of visiting the celebrated
farm OF II. Gerker, two miles south Of Kenton.
and eight from Smyrna. Mr.. Gsrker ina lie his
hrst purchase OF land six or eight years ago.
aud since, by purchasing adjoining farms ha. ac
quired body of land in one farm Of no less a
magnitude than 1000 acres THIS land was
comparatively poor when pu 'chased-ihough b
of good natural quaities-but is now brought
up to the highest state of cultivation. This
of course, in SO short time, must ha We required
very large outlay of money and vast amount
of labor The fertillZing has been done main
ly with the refuse of his ewH and other glue
factories, brought from Philadelphia to Smy ma
Landing, aud thence by teams a distance off
nine miles to the farm.
MIR, Gerker resldes in Phiidelehia. but the
iarm is in careful hands, (all Germans we be
Ieve) and everything is moving along in the
best style Of scientific farming. We found a
field of wheat, the best by far we have seen,
seventy-five acre, California Variety which
they expect, if no disaster ogeriakes it, to yield
thirty five bushels per acre. Three hundred
acres are planted in corn, a number in potatoes.
and there are several fields Of fiue grass, which
will be ready for the scylhe 10 three OF four
weeks. The yield of corn last year was 10 900
bushels. The peach orchard is also on grand
scale. covering six hundred acres, and number.
ing between sixty and seventy thousand trees
The majority afe, however, young, and not yet
IN good bearing condition. The cattle, fifteen
of which are subject to the pail, have each its
particular house and stall, and are thus as care.
fully provided for as the horses. pen of thirty
hogs also showed evidence of good care, Though
their daily rations consists only OF STOP aud cut
grass. They will make during the season near
tive hundred loads Of manure, worth about 5000
thus going far TO liqOidale the expense Of their
raising. The regular force required to work
the farm is sixteen meH and about the same
number of horses and mules.
We have thus gone into particulars, to show
what can be done with our Kent county lands,
and though but few men have the same means
and facilities as in the case narrated above,
yet all may take example of the ada ptability of
our soil 10 rapid improvement under scientific
culture.
The change in this section, as well as in all
parts Of the country, has been great socially as
we'll as in material prosperity, and nothing bot.
ter illustrates th!s than an incident related by
our accompanying friend. When young ma n,
not yet havir & obtained his majority, he visited
the house (now the property Of Jefferson Lewis,
Esq.,) on the opposite side OF the road from the
above, between fifty and sixty years ago, then
owned and occupied by the Clark family-one
"t whom (NehemIah) quarter of a century
st'erward was a candidate Tor rGoyernor--where
about three hundred young ladies' and gems
had assembled al an old fashioned "quilting."
This was considered in that day the par excel.
lence OF social enjoyment, and between the
four hddles, (there were no vIolIns then) zap
ple.Jack" and the abandon 10 fun and frolIc,
they had high old time" II was before
the days of the old "gigs," when there were
but few even of the "elbew carriages" SO
called from having long wooden springs that
come to an elbow three or four feet in the rear
OF The body; SO the mode of travelling was on
horseback or "Johuny Shanks mare" Our
friend and young man who accompanied hIui
were so fortunate as to have the first mode OF
conveyance, and upon the akng up Of the
party each one took lady behind h,m on the
/ horse and thus accompanied them hume, doubt.
less to The infinite pleasure of all concerned
But to return from the digresson We iounC
e great change aud spirit Of Improvement in al
: the neighborhood. Az the Seven Hlckories,'
. adjoining the Gerker tract. we found a farm il
> progressive state of improvement, belonging
: 10 Mr. Stake, of Pbiladel phia, which, eigh
, or ten years ago was lying out in commons
+, At the lower extremity Of this farm a new roat
= has been opened through tract of countr,
= heretofore excluded, to Bethel NJ. f. church
= on which is another tract Of 1000 acres, belong
!. ing to Nr. Geo. G. Simpson, an enlerprlsin
q farmer, who is fast bringing 1t up to fine stat
Of produclVeness. Mr.. 3. has had brick xii
burnt, intending to put up one or two dwelling
, on this tract
O. This whole country is capable Of the higheG
state Of Improvement. and doubtless will sool
h. under enterprising men, Gqual any in III
State.