Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-11-20
Aariealtilral.

ALARoE FAEM.-Old John Texter, as he ID |
tamiliariy called, Is the owner OF pro badly the
largest angle farm In Pennsylvania. It con-
tains 1400 acres, and Is situated In Lancaster,
Lebanon and Berks counties. A reporter Of
Reading Eagle, recently visited this place and
John Tsxter Il Jolly old man, perhaps 66 or
10 years OF age, In good health, and happy
widower. He lives In Lebanon county, but
bis farm extends to Berks and TO Lancaster.-
There are numerous fsmilcs in that particular
section Of the State by the same name and they
are all large land holders, but John Texter Is
the richest OF them all. He inherited some
portion of his present domain, but during his
long business years he has made money and
added tract after tract to his farm, until now it
has reached It's present large dimensions. =
Hs has employed an experienced German
hired man and stock raiser, who in conjunction
| with only the son of Texter, has entire con.
| troll of the place. This year was raised nearly
/ 100 acres Of corn, 90 acres Of wheat, as many
ofrye and as many Of oats. He has two vast
tracts of pasture in different parts Of his farm
| compromising nearly 800 acres. These are well
watered, and are splendidly adapted 10 stock
raising on large scale, which they are doing
He has several hundred acres ofchoce meadow
land and the balance IN garden, orchard and
sprout land. For the partial accommodation Of
the large yield ofhis farm, ho has two immense
switzer barns, each 100 feet long and 40 feet
wide. One of these Is near the house, and the
other about mile away. These are however
incapable. In the rear Of them are large
number Of stacks of wheat, rye and hay. Many
times it occurs that they are compelled to keep
rye and wheat without threshing 1t Tor TWO
years. They have several STACKS of wheat at
present on hand, two years OLD.
They pay great attention TO stock raising.-
Old Texter has about 10 very fine horses, aud
about 100 head Of other cattle. II Is IA pleasure
to look over the many horses in various sec
tons Of the farms. The Young animals are
all divided into one, two and three year old lots
He has colts, from months DID, and many Of
them are very fine animals. A singular thing
Is, they are all named, and their names are q.
readily called by the owner and hired man, o.
= so many chlldren's. Fat cattle are in album
dance, and the droyers are visited by butcher.
for miles around. These are allowed to pasture
as long as the snow does not fall but as sooI
as it does, they are housed and fed from til,
! acres of stacks on the farm.
The entire boundary Of the farm is fenced
y and hence there Is mile, after mile Of rails
Water is very convenient in many sections Q
y the farm, and there are other desirable conve
r niences. In short time the old man intend
). building another private residence nsar bar
IS No. 2.
De Adjoining this large tract is the farm of h
he only son, young man about 20 years of age
er His name Is Joel Texter, he is married and
1t. without ceildren. The old man is a widowe
10 and hence this immense tract of nearly IN
Oh acres is in the entire control of the two Texte
oil and the wife Of the son. The large farm is
re great curiosity, and it is well worth the time
lie pay IL visit. The people are extremely no
H. pitable and take some pains in showing STR n e
IS around. incidentally we may mention tn
several years ago the old gentleman raised ov
100 bushels Of clover seed and IL tons OF put
kns, enough to sow the entire county Of Der
with grass, and ornament all the hill-tops wi
~, thu golden balls Of the corn-field.