The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-30
STARKE'S DIXIE PLOW.

UY INvITAT1oNioF Mr.. +. Q. WILLIAMS, OF
- the county Of Nottoway, a number of gen
tlemen assembled ct his residence Saturday Decem.
Der TO- to test by practical experiment the oompar.
atve value Of the DIXIE Pillow, manufactured by
starke q Co., and any other that might enter. the
The pIows were taken to the field at half past two
?. NJ, the following gentlemen acting as judges r.
W. Epes, j. D. Williams, Robert Scott, Jas. 8. Gil
liam, VIM. 7. Christian, Richard Epes, Dr. Daring
Sidney Graves, Walton sydnor, +. o. Williams, q.
n. seay, and J. NJ Hurt. Mr.. 8. Graves and Walton
sydnor were the principal plowmen, Mr.. W. sydnor
| working the Watt pillow and 3 Graves the Dixie
both of whom handled them with mastery skill and
success.
The plows entered were the Dixie two.horso right
and left-hand plows, and the Watt two-horse left
hand. Soon after the trial commenced the beam of
the Dixie righthand broke in two and was laid
a ans Hx es1g T to the Watt left
| was stubbe loan without soil but as tho plows
were new, and did not turn in consequence Of the
roughness of the castings after short trial 1t was
decided to take them into another field where the
soil was welltrodden, tenacious clay, with tmo-
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 new conner, as the contest
waxed warm most Of the judges took hold of 1t to
test personally its practical working. While there
is 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
terest of agriculture to justify its publication.
The award of the judges was unanimously in favor
OF the Dixie on the following grounds:
LIST. 1t cut deeper furrow.
I'd. It cut wider furrow.
81. IL more effectually inverted the sod.
4th. The draft seemed to be no greater.
9th. The mechanical arrangement for altering cut
was deemed more simple and efficient.
At the conclusion Of the trial some of the Judges
were 80 pleased as to determine to order them for
their own JIM. HURT Secretary
certify that the above was sent to the Richmond
"Whig" for publication by myself; that am not
acquainted with Mr. Starxe that he had never seen
In no wise party to the trial of the plows alluded
to T M UTJRT
January T. 1871.
We, the iuf ges in the "Plow Trial." on the farm of
Mr.. i. @. Williams, published in the Whig hereby |
certify that II directed to be sent to that journal
as communication by the judges who made the |
award.
JMHURT,
FC WILLIAM,
W CHRISTIAN,
B WILLIAMS,
JAS 8 GILLIAN.
January Q, 1871.
do not believe In pillow trials made by the manu-
facturers themselves but hope that every farmer |
VIII at once make a full trial of the DIXIE with |
every pillow he can find, and buy that which does the
best work. have not been able to supply the de. |
mand, nor fill my orders for sometime, and must |
leave feldtrias where they rightly beong-to farm.
ers themselves.
PHI sTARKE,
ap IS-wom No lao Main street.