The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-09-18
AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS.
CrARKE's DIXIE PLOw.

BY INVITATION OF MIR. +. @. WILLIAMS,
Of The county of Nottoway, a number OF gentle
men assembled at his residence Saturday, De
cember 10, 10 test by practical experiment the
compare i've value of the DIXIE PLOW, manu-
featured 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: +. w. Eppes, J. b, Williams, Robert
Scott, Jas. S. Gillian, VIM. 7. Christian, Rich
ard Eppes, DE-. Daring, Sidney Graves, Walton
Hurt Mr. s. Graves and Walton Sydnor were
the principcl plowmen Mr.. w. Sidnor working
the Watt pillow, and S. Graves the Dxie-both Of
whom handled them with mastery skill and
success.
Those entered were the Dixie tvo-horse right and
lefi-hand piows, and the Wait two-horse left
hand. Soon after the trial commenced, The beam
of the Dixie rght-hand broke in two and was laid
aide the contest being narrowed to the Watt left
hand and Dixie right-hand The soil first selected
was siubble loan without soil but as the plows
were new, and did not turn In consequence of the
rouglness of the castings, after a short trial it
was decided to take them mi another field where
the soil was q well-Irodden, tenacious clay, with
timothy sod covered with vegetation and with
straw. The plows here performed their work adj
mirably, cutting and tprnisg without choking
As the Dixie was n new conner, as the contest
waxed warm most of the judges took hold of 1T
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 BON plovs did we'll vet the trial, with
the award of The judges, is deemed of sufficient
Importance 10 the interest," of agriculture to justi-
fly its publication ....., u
The award of the judges was unanimously in
favor of the Dixie on The following grounds
LIST. 1t cut a deeper furrow. -
I'd. 1t cut a wider furrow.
Sd. 1t more efiectuillv 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 10 determine TO order
them for their own use.
JIM. HURT, Secretary.
certify that the above was sent to the Rich
mond ''Whg'' for publication by myself: that
never seen the paper and knew nothing of its
contents, and was in no wise party 10 the trial
of the plows alluded to.
january 7, 1871. ]. M HURT.
We, the Judges in the 'Plow Trial. Oh the
| fam of Mr.. L. @. Williams, published in the
Wing" hereby certify that it directed 10 be
| sent TO that Journal as q communication by the
| Judges who made the award
j. NJ HURT,
| &c. VILLAINS,
w. T. CHRISTIAN,
| ars s-.r j. Il. WILLIAMS,
January 8, 1871. JAS S. GILLIAN.
| 1 do not believe in plow trials made by the
| manufacturers themselves, but hope that every
farmer will ut nuke q full trial of the DIXIE
does the best work. have been aoI able osupply
| the demand. nor fill my orders for sometime, and
must leave feld-trials where they rightly belong
| to themselves.
p. H. STARKE,
APP l2-w3m No. 1440 Main Sweet.