Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1872-10-23
Premium Farm In the State.

Premium Farm In the State.
Capt. W. A. Wash, a gentlemen
well known to Il readers as the
general agent of the Kansas City
Orphans Home, recently visited the
premium farm of the state, owned
by Mr.. John w. Harris, OF Boone
county, and send the following inter-
estiDg account of his visit. to the
Platte City Landmark
On the fourth day of July I visited
the premium farm of Missouri. 1t
is situated i'll the western part of
Boone county, five miles north Of
Rochcport, and belongs to John W.
Harris, who ranks high in agricultu-
raj circles, being vice-president of
the State Board of Agriculture, n
member of the Boone county Mcchan-
ical and Agricultural Association.
and n delegate to the National Con-
grcss which met last spring in St.
Louis. "A year ago he donated $500
to the Agricultural College, the in
%tcrest to be expended annually for a
medal to be awarded for the best cs-
say upon agricultural topics. This
year the subject chosen was "Thc
Best cattle tor Dairy Purposes"
Next year it will perhaps concern
the culture of Indian corn
! v.oSf noo,.tl, Sf.to Soo - A.:
culture offered a premium of 500
for the best conducted form in the
state, and the committee appointed
to examine and determine the mat
ter this spring awarded the prize to
Mr.. Harris farm, which l will now
proceed to describe: 1t contains L.
700 acres, every loot under fence, and
almost every fence on the place ten |
rails high, staked and ridered.
There Is about five miles of hedge
fence, and perhaps a mile of plank
fence. There is at different points
Oh the plantation four magnificent
barns with all modern improvements,
II being for mules, one for cattle,
II for stock, and the other for mis-
c%ellancous use. At every barn there !
is a cistern, and there is not a field
or pasture OH the place without rum
ming or pond water. About four
hundred acres arc in a fine state Of
cultivation, and all the balance well
set in grasses of different kinds. !
The gulleys and washes arc all fill
ell up, and the brush and under
growth neatly cleared out, making
almost absolutely no waste land OH
the farm. Mr.. Harris told ME that
during tho past winter he had hauled
and thrown into places needing it.
nearly 500 loads of straw and brush
Once every day he walks the circuit
of the whole farm, aud takes notes Of
the smallest items needing repair,
change or improvement. 1 made the
grand round7' with him on the
Of July; he would stop here
to pluck a seeding mullen, there TO
cast a stump into u rut, and again to
to put up a fallen rail. If a cow, u
sheep or u pig was lame or not thriv-
ing, he would have it removed from
herd or flock. He has OH his farm
several tenement houses, the occu-
pants all working for him. They
meet the oversecr at u CERTAIN hour
and place, and every thing goes OH
like sock work, no sluggards or
shirks being allowed in his employ.
There is u splendid vinyarl, which
last year produced $40 gallons Of
wine, and the place is stocked with
an abundance of fruit of all the imu-
proved kinds and varieties. Scatter
ed about the vicimitics of his man-
sion there are about forty bee-hives;,
and all kinds of domestic fowls are to
be seen around.
Mr.. Harris has now on his place
more than q thousand head of stock,
all Of the best quality, and which he
delights in showing to his ncighbOrs
and friends. He has All elegant park /
containing fifteen deer, five Of them
beautiful fawns. Five hundred sheep,
including SOME imported Cotswolds
about two hundred lambs, Craze
upon his broad acres. His wool this
season Melted him nearly $1,000.
His hogs are of the Berkshire and
PolaNd-China stock, and number
some 200. Ills mules, horses AND
oxen perhaps aggregate 100; and his
cattle now Oh hand run up to about
500, composed Of Aldcrney., Devons,
Brshsms and short-horned Durhams.
The Attorneys are highly priced for
the richness Of their. butter and milk.
Mt. Harris Feels q just pride iu his
place, and will always be glad to
show his friends about. There is no (;
farmer, however much experienced, |,
that could not learn something by
the inspection of such q farm aud its
management. Evident signs Of sys-
ten, ncatness, economy and manage
mont arc visible everywhere.
Mi. IL. and his good lady deal in
tho old Virginia "makc yourself
at home" style Of hospitality, and
whoever goes there once will want
TO 20 there again.
Father Ryan, the Mobile "poct
priest" according to q New Orleans
10 this style ofa man.: The
sunshine Of all the good and noble
qualities that ore SO often uneqnaiIy
divided out between, men seem all to
hsye met IN perfect concord in has
beart. throwing out their radiating
light through his kindly features.
His siiken, auburn hair falls In tireses