Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-08-27
A Delaware Model Farm.
ZEE. Governor Ross' Home near scAford-
,;4 u What ana Kew II Produces.
FROM our OWN CORRESPONDENT.

FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT
The agricultural resources of Delaware
have of late years become matter oil con-
siderable Importance not only to her own
citizens but to those living in more northern
ATTITUDES indeed, 80 celebrated have her
lands become for the raising Of fruit. yegeta-
bles, and trucking that immigration is pour
ing into the State from all sections of the
Union. her lands which were, once consider
cd sworn out, have again been occupied
and resuscitated and by mild and gentle |
system Of labor made to produce crops which |
have astonished the country. To give the |
numerous inquirers after Delaware land some |
idea of the productiveness of the soil, your
correspondent recently visited the farm Of
Ex-Governor Ross, near Seaford, and collect
ed some information of the crops raised, and
the course pursued, which has resulted In
making 1t what il is, "Ihe Model Farm Of
Detot0dre."
The Delaware Railroad from Wilmington
to Crisfeld, generally known by the name
of the Annamessic Route, runs through
the centre Of the farm. The attention Of
passengers is generally attracted by the spa
cious mansion of the Ex-Governor upon the
left of the road going downward, as it ap-
pears looming up amongst the stately ma
pies which surround it.
1t is built of brick, sanded and painted a
light loan stone color. Like the mansions
of most Southern gentlemen, it is only two
stories in height, with an observatory on the
| roof; awide spaciousporch extends nearly the
entire distance around the house. In front
large yard containing several acres, extends
TO the Railroad, where it is entered through
fanciful gates. The carriage way and the
| gravelled walks through this yard are plea
sanity shaded with naples amongst which
are planted many varieties Of flowers of all
hues and colors. At the entrance of this
spacious yard stand several handsome cot
tage houses in which the laborers of Mr..
Ross resides.
The farm which a few years before the
late war contained about 1900 acres, has
been reduced and farms sold from it until it
now contains $40 acres, 500 of which is in a
high state of cultivation, and the remainder
is in woodland; greater part of which is
heavy oak timber and the remainder in pine.
The oak growing in this section is the white
oak, black oak, and peach oak. Consider
abis hickory is noticed growing here, also
3 ash, gum, and other trees. The saving o
: bark is considerable item in the work o
the farmer during the Spring season. Peacl
: oak bark is the most valuable and com
. mands from $ll to $l2 per cord. The re
t ceipts from bark alone on the farm of Mr.
:. Ross, amount annually to several hundre'
dollars. He is rapidly cutting down his pin
timber into cordwood, for which he realize
SO per cord. Hundreds Of cords are ricke
Z along the railroad, awaiting transports
:. ton to market. Forty acres of this pine tim
Der were cleared away during last year upo
which crop Of corn is now growing whic
:. promises a yield of not less than fift
: bushels per acre. A like number of acre
= is now undergoing the same process, prepal
:. atory to the next years corn crop. Mr.. Ros
= thinks the land will be of more value to hill
:, for agricultural purposes than in the grow
ing Of pine timber. These same pine fores
: : were sown by Mr.. Ross, with pine see
: twenty-five years ago they were sown
- rows about rod apart, and as thick in Il
- row as drilled corn. They are now
~ straight as an arrow and many of them are
~ foot in diameter. They would make t
hst ~ hut 70 {,
''n plus of fencing material in this section, th
he are cut into cordwood and sent to mark
Ing On the occasion of our visit to Mr.. Ro
1870 we found him seated in his large porch, {
ely joying the cool breezewhich stirred the de
;cb foliage surrounding the mansion, and rend
ed, ing the atmosphere puro and invigoratir
ICY he was busily engaged in reading ''T
OF Thousand Year" On introducing myst
p 'ey and making known the object of my Wis
in he expressed himself pleased, and read
lso gave all desirable information in relation
, 'av his farm and crops.
We Whedt-He says cannot be considered
Mt standard crop on his farm nor in that part
Die the State; it is very irregular in its vie
'a' some years producing ten or twelve bush
to the acre and at other times as high
thirty and thirty-two bushels have been Ii
us vested The largest yield Of wheat he e
yer had was forty-two and quarter bushels
ave the bushel of seed. Owing to some misund
SIS standings mistake was made in regulating
the drill, and only three pecks to the acre '
nal sown. Mr.. Ross on discovering the mistl
TIL thought that his wheat crop was ruined,
w ~ soon it appeared growing strong and Wig
is Gus, completely covering the ground, and
nal his great establishment and the astonishm
the of every one else this remarkable yield ,
faa. the result The seed was Of the "Gale"
ien riety which was then much cultivated.
ills field on which this wheat was raised c
ior tanned about seventy-five acres, part o
IN. .m, OF which was drilled with the 'tGale whit
tied and the remainder with the 'Blneste
,ed- The mistake in the drill was discovered
ter fore he commenced drilling in the ''B
IN stem. The drill was then altered to so
q of bushel and half to the acre, but the y
ex- of wheat from the heavy sowing was
Pc near 80 great to the acre or to the busht
,rns. Scale" and the light sowing. From
rms, field of wheat 1000 bushels were harve
rule, and sold in the town of Seaford at S
give per bushel. Mr.. Ross says this was
,nas largest yield of wheat he ever had.
good only manure used was the blowing dow
than a stiff clover sod, and the application
~ a.ng light sprinkling of phosphate. He has
lie er since been able to raise such crop
piled though equal attention and care had
,nes, bestowed upon the subject. Since that
) en ns he has seldom been able to realize owe
ures. to 20 bushels to the acre, the variable
dred of the season of late years, he says, ope
ways against the growth of wheat and the adj
Nng alton of the seed, is another cause Of the
,cuss reHness Of the crop. This year his CT
hill but ordinary, averaging not over is bu
eden to the acre. He generally cultivates
NM; II field of wheat each year, his field conta
him never less thsn forty and some times
!, and ninety to one-hundred acres.