The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-04-27
STARKE'S DIXIE PLOW.

DY INVITATION OF MIR. +. O. WILLIAMS, OF
- the county of Nottoway, number of gen.
tlemen assembled at his residence Saturday, Decem
per TO- to test by practical experiment the compar-
ative value of the DIXIE PLOW, manufactured by
starke Co., and any other that might enter the
Held OF competition.
The plows were taken to the field at half. past two
P: NJ the following gentlemen acting as judges F.
W. Epes, }. d. Williams, Robert Scott, Jas. 8. Gil
Liam, VIM. I. Christian, Richard Epes DR.. Daring,
Sidney Graves, Walton sydnor, F. G. Williams, O..
N. seay, and j. III. Hurt. Mr.. s. Graves and Walton
sydnor were the principal plowmen Mr.. W. sydnor
working the Watt plow and 8. Graves the Dixie
both of whom handled them wi tn mastery skill and
success.
The plows entered were the Dixie two. horse right
and lsft-hand plows, and the Watt two-horse left
hand. Soon after the trial commenced, the beam Of
the Dixie right hand b.oke in two and was laid
aside, the contest being narrowed to the Watt left
hand and Dixie left-hand. The soil first selected
was stubble loan without soil but as the plows
were new, and did net turn in consequence Of the
roughness Of the castings after short trial it was
decided to take them into another field where the
soil was welltrodden tenacious clay, with timo-
thy sod covered with vegetation and with straw
The plows here performed their work admirably
cutting and turning clear without choking
As the Dixie was conner, as the contest
waxed warm most of the judges took hold of 1t to
test personally its practical working. While there
ID no intention to do injustice to any, as neither
party had agent or representative present. and both
plows did WELL yet the trial with the award Of the
Judges is deemed of sufficient importance to the in
tersst of agriculture to justify its publication.
Ano oUotu vi tho JuuSo1 WAS uuauimOubly III 1&yDf
OF the Dixie on the following grounds:
LIST. 1t cut deeper furrow.
I'd. 1t cut wider furrow.
Sd. 1t more effectually inverted the sod.
9TH. The draft seemed to be no greater.
9th. The mechanical arrangement for altering cut
was deemed moro simple and efficient
Atthe conclusion of the trial some of the Judges
were 30 pleased as to determine to order them for
their own use j. M. HURT, Secretary.
certify that the above was sent to the Richmond
'Whig" for publication by myself; that l am not
acquainted with Mr.. Starke; that he had nevsr seen
the paper and knew nothing of its contents aud was
In no wise party to the trial of the plows alluded
TO-; J. NJ. HURT
We, the Judges in the "Piow Trial." on the farm of
MIR. \. Q: Williams, published in the Wing, hereby
certify that 1t was directed to be sent to that journal
as communication by the judges who made the
award.
JMHURT,
i @ WILLIAMS,
W CHRISTIAN,
b WILLIAMS,
JAS s GILLIAN.
January 9, 1871.
do not believe In pillow trials made by the manu-.
facturers themselves, but hope that every farmer
will at once make full trial of the DIXIE with
every pillow he find, and buy that which does the
best work. / have not been able to supply the de-
msnd, nor fill my orders for sometime, and must
leave eldtrals where they rightly belong-to farm
ers themselves
PHI sTARKE,
ap 13-w3m No 1440 Main street.