Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-03-13
AGRICEL TER.aL.
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
10, to test by practical experimenting compare
tive value Of the Dixie Plow, manufactured BY
Starke i Co., and any other that might enter
the field Of competition.
The plows were taken to the field at half-past
two O'Clock p. M, the following gentlemen act
ine as Judges F. W. Epes J. B. Williams,
Robert Scott JAS s. Gillian, VIM: 4. Christian,
Richard Epes, Dr. Daring, Sidney Graves;
Walton sydn9T G Williams e; =; ss sEd am%
were the principal plowmen, Mr. w. Sydnor
working the Watt pillow and S. Graves the Dixie
both of whom handled them with mastery
skill and success
The plows entered were the Dixie two-horse
right and left hand plows, and the Watt two
horse lefthand. Soon after tho trial commenced
the beam of the Dixie right hand broke in two
and was laid aside the contest being narroWal
to the Watt left hand and Dixie left hand. The
soil first selected was Stubblc loan without sol
but rs the plows were new and did not turn III
consequence of the roughness ofthe castings, al
ter short trial it WAS decided t" take them t"
another field where the sol 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 tho Dixie was q new conner, rs the contest
waved warm, most of the judges took hold OF 1t
to test personally its practical working While
thoro is no intention to do injustice to any, as
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 ju<tl-
! fly its publication.
| favor of the Dixie on the following grounds:
lst. 1t cut deeper fllrrough.
I'd. 1t cut II wider Through.
Sd. 1t moro efectually 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 so pleased It's to 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
mover seen the paper and knew nothing of its
contents, and was i'll no wise party to the trial
of plows alluded to.
January I, 1871. j. VI. HURT.
We, the judges in the Pillow Trial on the
farm of Mr. F. g. Williams published in the
Wing hereby certify that it WAS directed to be-
sent to that journal as n communication by the
Judges who made the award.
j. NJ. HURT,
F.. G. WILLIAMS,
w. T. CHRISTIAN,
J. b. WILLIAMS,
January 9, 1871: JAS. ). GILLIAN
l 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 nd and buy that which
does the best work l have not been able to sup
ply the 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, l440 Main street
New Market, Caroline County,
February 70 1871.
p H. Starke, esq:
Dear Sir-Inclosed you will find II certificate
which send you for your Dixie" flow.,
have been nctuuted from no other motive, but
alone from the merit of the Pluw. ! ioar the
certificate may be too lengthy for publication
should you 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 P!ow the best, and my "pportuni-
| ties for judging Of the two Plows. You can
make such dispOsurc rs you may choose OF the
| certificate. nm very respectfully, &c,
john H. TALlAFERRo.
Falls Church, Va, October ~, 1870.
| Mr. A. IT, Skinner, Alexandria:
| Dear Sir: The Dixie Plow bought of you
| the past season has given me entire satisfaction,
after IL thorough test. | have used the best
Northern Plows, and consider the Dixie" ST.
perior to any ever used. Yours truly,
JOHN L. KOoN.
For sale by ALBERT II. SKINNER
mari ~ and II 5. Union ST., Alexa., Va.