The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-06-10


June 6, 1878. ! 1|
Some Of my early letters gave some ac-
count of the model farms Of Colonel S. s.
Bradford, Culpepper county, and John J.
Shipman, Fairfax county, with some In
Warren, Shenandoah and other counties.
In this letter it is proposed to give some
description Of o model farm in Charlotte
county, which is regarded with pride by
everybody in this section. 1t is the prop
crty of G.. A. Heidelberg, Esq, situated
between brakes Branch and Charlotte
Courthouse, lying near the little Roanoke
river, and contains about four hundred
acres of diversified lands-some flat inter-
walls, some rolling, and portions of fine
timber; but the cultivated portions
were badly worn and exhausted,
when, few years ago, MIR.
Heidelberg took possession of and began
to farm it and he has so far resuscitated
and reclaimed it, with the aid of clover,
barn-yard manure, and proper rotations
of crops, good stock, stout horses, and in
dustrious attention, that now he gets spen-
did crops Of wheat, tobacco, corn and hay;
and has all the time made ii pay, while
bringing it up; he is reading, thinking,
intelligent gentleman and himself and
sons do most of the large amount of
work on the farm. He had large yield of
good wheat last year, as well as other
crops, and has luxuriant crops which pro-
misses abundant harvests this year /; indeed
| have not seen field of wheat, this year,
superior to his, and not half dozen equal;
while his corn is stouter and more forward
than any have seen; portions OF his wheat
will be ready to harvest in fortnight.
The yards around his barns, stables and
other buildings are scraped and cleaned
up, and his fields are cleared from weeds !;
while his buildings are neat and in good
repair, and tools and implements safely
housed. when not in use; then, the family
give care to lawns, shrubbery, flowers
and gardens, which makes the place orna.
mental and attractive.
By seeding down with timothy and clo-
yer, and top-dressing with thin coating of
barn-yard manure, he has made some of
the old sterile, waste places as fresh and
green as an oasis in the desert. He has
thereby shown that clover and timothy will
do we'll here, and proftably reclaim the
worn land, so that they will bring large
crops of tobacco and wheat; he does not
coniine himself to either tobacco or
grain, but makes good crops of both, and
makes each help the other, with addition
of grass and corn. Rotation, sod, meadow,
stock and top-dresSing, are the means to be
used. -E..a na..
| have dwelt at some length on this
place, believing that it affords lesson of
profit for those who are less systematic and
thrifty. Everything in the residence ex-
hibits the same method and thoughtfulness
as the field and team works. 1t all shows
an air Of taste and comfort, as well as
work and thrift, and shows what north
ern farmer, with industry, care, and
large fat horses, and good stock, can do on
old Virginia lands, by improving on the
old beaten track and routine, that have SO
long prevailed bis stout teams pillow deep,
and the crops rise high. d, ID. s.,.........
The young men, his sons, are also intel
ligent, Industrious, and ambitious to &C.
complish something worthy and useful
they are true chips of the old block ant
many another young man would do vel
to take right hold Of stern field-work, will
unremitting system and industry.
Mr.. Heidelberg and his brave sons vii
come in from the vigorous tolls of the fiel'
and sit down with grace and cheerfulnes
to Join the rest of the family, in delightful
music. vocal and instrumental; as The son
with the others can play the organ an
piano with skill. for their own and the enter
tainment of their guests; and this is u
more than others can do, if they will.
Both yesterday aud to-day. we wer
visited with copious showers OF ram, &C
co,npaned by furious winds and thunder
and they are beneficial to the farmers b
moistening the ground for setting tobacc
plants, while the young corn and garde
vegetables are hurried up, and the gras
and meadows-the very basis and found'
ton of true farming-are also much az
vanced thereby-plenty of grass will CIV
plenty of grain. ID. ). Y.