The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-24
STARKE,S DIXIE PLOK.

| DY isVIrATioN.0F MR.. u. O. WILLIAMS, OF
- the county OF Holloway, Q number of gon-
tlemen assembled at This residence Saturday Deem
Dor TO- to test BY practical experiment the oompar-
| stive value of the DIXIE PLow, manufactured by
starke Co., and any other that might enter. the
| field Of competition.
The plows were taken to the field at half past two
| P. NJ. the following gentlemen acting as judges Y.
W. Epes J. o. Williams, Robert scott, jas. 8. GIL
liam, Vim. T. Christian, Richard Epes. Dr. Daring,
Sidney Graves, Walton sydnor, y. G. Williams, O..
N. eeay, and J. NJ. Hurt. Mr. 8. Graves and Walton
sydnor were the principal plowmen. Mr.. w. sydnor
-wo, king the Watt pillow and 8. Graves the Dixie
both Of whom handled them with mastery skill and
success. rSr
The pows entered were the Dixie two-horse right
and left-hand pows, and the Natt two-horse loft
hand Soon after the trial commenced, the beam of
the Dixie right hand broke In two and was laid
aside, the contest being narrowed TO the Watt left
hand and Dixie lefthand. The soil FIRST selected
was stubbie loan without soil but tho plows
were new, and did not turn In consequence Of the
roughness of the castings, after short trial 1t
decided to TAX Q them into another field where the
soil was well-trodden, tenacious clay, with tmo
thy sod covered with vegetation and with straw.
The pows 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 IL TO
test personally its practical working While there
is no intention to do injustice to any, neither
party had agent representative present aud 10th
plows old WE'LL yet the trial. with the award of the
Judges is deemed Of sufficient Importance to the IN
terest of agriculture to justify its publication.
Tho award of the judges was unanimously IN favor
of the Dixie on the following grounds;
1st 1t cut deeper furrow.
3D. 1t cut wider f1rrow.
3D.. 1t more effectually inverted the sod.
4th. The draft seemed to be no greater.
5th. The mechanical arrangement for altering cut
deemed more simple and efficient.
At the conclusion Of the trial some of the Judges
were 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 am not
acquainted with Mr.. Starke that he had seen
the paper aud knew nothing Of its contents, and was
in wise party to the trial of the plows alluded
to 800 ]. III. HURT.
January 7, 1871
We, the Judges In the "Plow Trial" on the farm of
Mr.. +. O. Williams, published In the Wing, hereby |
certify that it directed to be sent to that journal
as communication by the judges who made the |
award.
JMHURT
FO WILLIAMS, |
VT CHRISTIAN, |
B WILLIAMS,
. q. JAS s GILLIAN. |
January 9, 1871. |
do not believe In pillow trials made by the manu-
facturers themselves but hope that every farmer |
viii at once make full trial of the DIXIE with |
every plow he 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 neld-trias where they rightly belongto farm
ers themselves.
PHI sTARKE,
Rp 13-w3m No 1440 Main street.