Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-03-14
iAGRICULTURaL.
CTARKE's DIXIE Pillow.

By invitation of Mr. F. c. Williams, of the
county of Nottoway, number of gentlemen as
sembled at his residence, Saturday, December
TO- to test, by practical experiment, the compare
tive value Of the Dixie Plow, manufactured by
Starke & Co., and any other that might enter
the field Of competition. .r
The plows were taken to the field at half-psst
two O'Clock M the following gsntlemmissnn . act
Robert Scott, JAS S. Gillian, VIM. T. Christian,
Richard Epes DR.. Daring Sidney Graves,
Walton Sydnor, F. C.: Williams, G. n. Seayand
were the principal plowmen, Mr. W., Sydnor
working the Watt plow, and S. Graves the Dixie
both of whom handled them with mastery
skill and success. a.
The plows entered were the Dixie two-horsc
right and left hand plows, and the Watt two
horse LETT hand. Soon after the trial commenced,
the beam of the Dixie right hand broke in two
and was laid aside, the contest being narrowdl
to the Watt left hand and Dixie left hand The
soil first selected was Stubble loanl without soil;
but as tho plowS were new, and did not turn Ill
consequence of tho roughncss Of the castings, AZ
ter a short trial it was decided to take them to
another field where the soil was we'll trodden,
tenacious clay, with 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 Il new conner, rs the contest
waNed warm, most of the Judges took hold of It
to test personally its practical working. While
there is no intention to do injustice to any, ~
neither party had agent or representative pre-
sent, and both plows did well, yet the trial, with
the award of the judges, is deemed of sufficient
Importance to the interest Of agriculture to just-
fy its publication.
favor of tho Dixie on the following grounds:
lst 1t cut deeper furrough.
I'd. 1t cut wider Through.
3D.. 1t moro etfectually inverted tho sod.
4th The draft seemed to be no greater
9Th The mechanical arrangement for altering
cut was deemed moro simple and efficient.
At the conclusion of the trial some Of the judges
were so pleased as to determine to order them
for their own use. J. M. HURT, Secretary.
l certify that the above was sent 10 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 IL party to the trial
of plows alluded to.
January 7, 1871 j. III. HURT.
We the judges in the Pillow Trial OIL the
farm Of Mr. +. c. Williams, published in the
Wing, hereby certify that it was directed to be
sent to that journal as communication by the
judges who made the award
j. NJ. HURT,
f. c. Williams
w. Y. CHRIsTIAS
j. B. WILLIAMS,
January y, loil JAS .. WILLIAM
I do not believe in pillow trials made by the
manufacturers themselves, but hope that. every
farmer will Mt once make full trial of the Dixie
with every pillow he can find, and buy that which
does the best work. | have not been able TO sup
ply tho demand, nor fill my orders for some
time and must leave the field trials where they
rightly bel ong-to farmers themselves.
p. II. STARKE, l44O Main street
New Market, Caroline County,
February ~, 1871.
P. H. Starke, ESQ:
Dear Sir-Inclosed you will find Il certificate
which send you for your Dixie PlOw. ]
have been actuated from no other motive but
alone from the merit of the Plow. | tear the
certificate may be too lengthy for publication
should Won desire it, but l felt desire to do
your Plow justice, and at the same time to do
Watt no injustice and show the reasons why
thought your Pow tho best, and my opportuni-
ties for judging OF the two Plows. You can
make such disposurc as you may choose OF the
certificate. l am very respectfully, &c,
JOHN Fl. TALIAFERRo.
Falls Church. Va, October 2S 1870.
Mr. A T. Skinner, Alexandria:
Dear Sir: The Dixie Plow bought Of you
the past season has given me entire satisfaction,
after thorough test l have used the best
Northern Plows, and consider the Dixie"
perior to any ever used. Yours truly,
JOHN L. KOOE
For sale by ALBERT T. SKINNER
mar 10 and II S. Union ST., Alexa., Va.