The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-08-15
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS
The Model Farm of Missouri.

VHE farm of John w. Harris, Es qof
Il Boone county, Mo-, is styled the
"Model Farm of Missouri" and certain
ly is one which many farmers would do
well to pattern after, some on an equal
scale, and others on smaller one.
This farm is situated about twelve
miles from Columbia City, Boone county,
Mo-, and about three miles north of the
road leading from that city to Rocheport,
ON the Missouri river. 1t embraces 1850
acres of land, all in one body; 1880 of
it under "jam up" good fence-a
Missouri phrase, signifying horse-high,
bull-strong, and pig-tight."
He plows but little land in proportion
to the whole amount. His usual crop
is 100 acres of corn, 120 acres of wheat,
80 acres of oats, 80 acres of Hungarian
grass and 100 acres of meadow, the
balance being in pasture He has for
years grown Hungarian grass, and feeds
it literally to all stock on the farm, con-
sidering it better and more profitable than
meadow hay. He has never experienced
any bad results from its use, which in
quantity rises from 100 to $50 tons year.
ly. His experience in this respect is
general one in his neighborhood, contrary
to the opinion of most farmers.
He has sixty head of Dorham cattle,
and few thorough bred Attorneys,
which he prizes above all others for their
milking capacities. 1t is a remarkable
fact that the milk of the Alderney COW is
as superior in richness to that of the COM
mon breed as the latter is better than
skinned milk. In addition to his breed
ing stock, he has fifty head Of Durhams
that are ready for the butcher-that be-
ing the number which he usually feeds
each winter. He has also, $50 head of
Texas cattle, very large, selected last fall
at Baxter Springs; 400 head of sheep
cross between the Costwold, Southdown
and Merino 200 head of hogs, most Of
them was ready for the June market;
GROSS between the Magic Cor Poland
China) and Berkshire. He esteems the
cross better than the fullblooded of either
kind, the first being too course and the
latter too small His work stock con-
sists of ten mules and the three yoke of
oxen. He has seven brood mares, sew
eral riding and driving horses, and about
forty young mules. He has four large
barns, the finest in the State, and capable
of sheltering about 300 head of stock,
and holding feed sufficient to carry them
through an ordinary winter. He usually
employs about six hands by the year,
paying them $50 per month, furnishing
them with comfortable house, truck
patch, wood, fruit, &C., they nearly all
being married men and boarding them
selves. He also has headman or super
intendent that he pays $500 per year.
OF course so large place to be ".run
so successfully must be conducted on
scientific principles. Mr.. Harris does
business on a scientific basis. A cores
pondent of Colman's Rural New Yorker,
who lately interviewed him, says:
spent one whole day riding over
the place with the proprietor, and l don't
think 1 exaggerate any when i say he got
down from his horse fifty times to put up
a rail that had been thrown from the
fence, or to take out his pocket-knife
and cut dock root or mullen stalk. He
has FIVE or six miles of young hedge
several orchards, his place being compos-
ed of several farms purchased from diff
ferent owners. The grounds surround
ing his house are ornamented with forest
trees, evergreens, shrubbery and flowers,
and if his children ever go to the great
city, it will not be with the excuse that
home is not attractive.