The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-06-12
SfARKE'S DIXIE PLOW.

rpY INvITATIONiOF MR.. #. @. WILLIAMS, OF
ID the county of Nottoway, a number of gem
tlemen assembled at his residence Saturday Deem
Der TO- to test by practical experiment the compar.
alive value of the DIXIE PLoW manufactured by
starke Co., and any other that might enter the
field Of competition.
The plows wero taken to the field at half past two
p NJ. the following gentlemen acting as judges =.
W. Epes, j. D. Williams, Robert Scott, JAS. B. Gil
liam, WIN. T. Christian, Richard Epes. DR.. Daring,
Sidney Graves, Walton Sydnor, II. o. Williams, a..
N. seay, and J. NJ. Hurt. Mr.. s. Graves and Walton
sydnor were the principal plowmen, Mr.. w. sydnor
working the Watt pillow and s, Graves the Dixie
both Of whom handled them with mastery skill ard
success
The plows entered were the Dixie two.horse right
and Ieft-hand pIows, and the y att wohorse left
hand. Soon after the trial commenced, the beam Of
the Dixie right hand broke in two and laid
aside, the contest being narrowed to the Watt left
hand and Dixie left hand The soil first selected
stubble loan without soil but as the plows
were new, and did not turn in consequence of the
rougbness OF the castings, after short trial 1t was
decided to taxi them into another field where the
soil was well-trodden, tenacious clay, with timo-
thy sod covered with vegetation and with straw.
The plows here performed their work admirably,
cutting and turning clear without choking.
As the Dixie was conner. the contest
waxed 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, as neither
party had agent or representative present, and 10th
pows did well, yet the trial. with the award of tho
judges, Is deemed of sufficient importance to the in
terest of agriculture to justify its publication.
The award of the judges was unanimously in favor
of the Dixie on the following grounds
LIST. 1t cut deeper furrow.
I'd. IL cut wider furrow.
Sd. 1t more effectualIy 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 as to determipe to order them for
their own use. j. NJ. HURT, Secretary.
certify that the above sent TO the Richmond
"Whg" for publication by myself; that am not
acquainted with Mr.. Starke; that he had never
the paper aud knew nothing of its contents and
in no wise party to the trial of the plows alluded
to. J. N. HURT.
January Z, 1871.
We, the iui ges in the "Plow Trial" on the farm of
Mr. f. @ Williams, published ia the Wing, hereby
certify that it directed be sent to that journal
as a communication by the judges who made the
award.
JMHURT,
L @ WILLIAMS,
w 7 CHRISTIAN,
j b WILLIAMS,
JAS 8 GILLIAN.
January 9, 1871.
do not believe in pillow trials made by the
facturers themselves, but hope that every farmer
will at once make full trial of the DIXIE with
every plow he can 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 eld-trials where they rightly beong-to fam
ers themselves.
MI PHI sTARKE,
ap 13-w3m No 1440 Main street.