Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-03-08
gGRICULTUR.aL.
CTARKE'S DIXIE PLOW.

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 Paf5ei Pew BY
Starkc & 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
ing as judges W G,l Efpes W i! p cb ra
Richard Epcs, DIR. Daring, Sidney Graves;
Walton Sydnor, r. G. Williams, G. n. Seay and
J. NJ HUT. Mr.. 5. Graves and Walton Sydnor
were the principal plowmcn Dir. W. Sydnor
working the Watt pillow and S. Graves the Dixie
"hoth of whom handled them with mastery
skill and success.
The plows entered were the Dixie two-hor>e
right and left hand plows,s and the Watt two
horse left hand Soon after the trial commenced,
the beam of the Dixie right hand broke IN ivy
and WAS laid aside the contest being narroWO
to the Watt left hand and Dixie left hand The
soil first selected was stubble loan without soil;
but as the plows were new, and did not turn IN
consequence of the roughne:s OF the castings, al
| ter 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 u new conner Us the contest
waxed warm, mort of the judges took hold of II
to test personally its practical working While
there is no intention To- do injustice to any, a.
neither party had agent or representative pre-
sent, and both plowS did well yet the trisls VIII
the award of the judges, Is deemed of sufficient
Importance to the interest OF agriculture TO )ust-
! fy its publication
The award Of the judges WAS unanimously in
| favor of the Dixie on the following grounds:
| 1T. 1t cut deeper Through.
ID. 1t cut wider Through.
| I'd 1t moro etectually inverted the sod.
4th The draft seemed to be no greater.
| 9Th The mechanical arrangement for altering
! cut wa. deemed more simple and efficient.
AT the conclusion Of the trial some of the judge;
| were % pleased as IL determine 10 order them
| for their own use. J. VI. HURT, Secretary.
| certify that the above Was sent to the Rich
mond Wing for publication BY myself; that l
| nm not acquainted with Mr.. Starke; that he had
| never seen the paper and knew nothing Of it,
contents, and was in no wise party to the tria
| of plOWS alluded to.
! January :, 1871. ). u. HURT.
We. the Judge. in the Pillow Trnl" on the
farm of Mr.. r G. Williams, published in the
Wing hereby certify thnt it Was directed I" Dc
sent to that journal Al: communication b| the
judges who made the award.
+. G. WILLIAMS,
W 7. CHRISTIAN,
J'B. WILLIAMS
| Jun,inrvH la.l Jas. ). GILLIAN.
| do not believe in pillow trinlS made by the
manufacturers themselves. but hope that every
| farmer will nj once make full trial of the Dixie
with every pillow hc can find, and buy that which
| does the best work | have not been able to sup
| ply the demand nor I'LL my orders for some
| time and mist lrayr the field trials where they
| rightly brlnng--tn farmers themselves.
| T. H. cTARKE. l44O Main street.
New Market, Caroline County.
February ~, 1871
| p II. Starkr esq:
Dear Sir-lnclo>rd You Will find certif cute
which ! send You for your Dixie fl"w.
| have been nctlatrd from no other motive, hut
| alone from the merit of the Pillow. | toar the
| certificate may b. tnn lengthy for publication
| should vou desire it, but ! felt desire t" d.
your Pfow Justice and nt the same time u do
WHIT no Injustice and show the Irs-ons why
thought your Pow the best, and my opportun-
tie: for Judging OF the two Pl"ws. You can
make such dispOSurc n y"u may choose of the
certificate | am very respectfully, &c,
.]oHH H. TALIAFERRo.
Falls Church, Va. October Is, 1870.
| MIR. A. T. Skinner. Alexandria:
Dear Sir: The Dixie Pow bought of you
the past season has given entire satisfaction,
| after thorough test. have, used the best
| Northern PlowI, and consider the Dixie SUI
| rrror t. any ever used. Yours truly,
JOHN l.. kooS.
For sale by ALBERT T. SKINNER.
mar IT. and ~ s. Union ST., Alexa., Va.