Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-04-17
.4GKICLL TUKAL.
IL, ~ In DAMN OLA M :.
.STARKE's DIXIE PLOW.

y p.
By Invitation of Mr.. +. G. Williams, of the
| county OF Nottoway, nun 1nber Of gentlemen as
scmbed at his residence, Saturday, December
lO to test, by practical experiment the compara-
tive value of the Dixie, Plow, manu- facturcd by
Starie & Co, and any other that might enter
! the field of competition. i. ''''.-1
| The pluws were taken to the field at half-paSt
two o clock p. H., the following gentlemen act
Hg as aags HSat II, + " GIpm Eprs VIM y + hrstan Mlam
Richard Epcs, DIR. barring, Sidney Graves,
Walton Sydnor, f. c.. Williams, G. N Seay and
J. NJ. HUT. Mr. S. Graves and Walton SSydnor
were the principal Pldwmcn, Mr. W. Sydnor
working the Watt p1pw and S. Graves the Dixie
both Of whom handled them with mastery
skill and success.
Tho pows entered were the Dixie two-lorSe
right and left hand pluws and the Watt two
horse left hand. Soon after the trial commenced,
the beam of tho Dixie right hand broke in two
and was laid aside, the contest being narrowed
to the Watt left hand and Dixie left hand. The
soil first selected was subblc lnarn without soil;
but us the pows were new, and did not turn IN
consequence Of the oughness Of the castings, af-
ter short trial it was decided to take them to
another field where the soil was well troddcn,
tenacious clay, with Il timothy sod covered with
vegetation and with straw. The plows here per-
formed their work admirably, cutting and turn
ing clear without choking. :.
As the Dixie was 4 new conner, as the contest
wuXcd 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 pre-
sent, and both pows did WELL yet the trial, with
the award of the judges, is deemed Of sufficient
Importance to the interest of agriculture to justi
fy its publication. ..,.-.
The award of the judges was unanimously i'll
favor of the Dixie on the following grounds:
lst. 1t cut deeper Through. '.... ...
ID. 1t cut Il wider firrough. =. ~ =;
I'd. 1t moro GHeetually inverted the sod.
ath ..fNhp draft seemed he prettter -..'-
9Th. The mechanical arrangement for altering
cut was deemed more simple and efficient.
At the conclusion Of the trial some of thejudgeS
were so pleased rs 10 determine To order them
for their own use. j. Nj. HURT, Secretary.
| certify that the above was sent to the Rich
mond Wing for publication by myself that |
am not acquainted with Mr.. Starke; that he had
never seen the paper and knew nothing of its
contents, and was in no wise party to the trial
of plUwS alluded TO.
January I, 1871. D. ~ HURT.
We. the Judges in the ''Plow Trial the
farm Of Mr. +. G. Williams, published i'll the
Wing, hereby certify that it Was directed to be
sent 10 that journal rs Il communication by the
Judges who made the award. -
D. NJ HURT,
r. c. WILLIAMS,
.... .. w I. CHRISTIAN,
J. B. WILLIAMs
january a. 1871. JAS. :. GILLIAN.
do not believe in plow trials made by the
manufacturers themselves, but hope that. every
with every plow he cun find, and buythat which
does the best work. have not been able to sup
ply the demand, nor I'LL my orders for some
tiulr and Iull,t lruyr the field trials " here they