The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-06-14
FARMING THAT PAYS.

East, WuclC VIC lOuHu q NuSoA III Soil
ing to drive us down the Neck" But
for the outrageous roads that climb all
the steepest hills in the district, the
ride would at any time be delightful
one: but with even these artificial draw.
backs, which have their prime cause in
the farce called " road SYSTEM" that
our county is blessed with, the enjoy.
ments of drive in the country in a
bright June day are still ample to repay
the most chronic grumbler or confirmed
hypochondria. With pair Of nags to
our vehicle that seemed to feel it a
pleasure to hear the wheels buzz be-
hind them, we rapidly passed through
a smiling country, with vistas opening
through the forest that hens in the road
the greater part of the way, which
showed glimpses of fine farms, and
reach of sparkling water with the white
sail of vessel or putting steamboat
gliding over the smooth breast of Elk
river, which widens into majestic
stream as it nears the Chesapeake.
After pleasant drive of little more
than an hour, we left the highway, by
a gate that opened into the farm of Mr..
w. K. Stackhouse, and were soon pass
ing between fields of as magnificent
wheat as ever delighted the eye of a
farmer The grain stood five and a
half feet high over the fields, as thick
as it could we'll grow, undulating in the
breeze like green pillows. Mr.. Stack
house has thirty acres of wheat that
we estimate will cut IS bushels to the
acre. The variety raised by him is the
Michigan amber: the straw is very
stiff and the grain thin branned, and
makes beautiful -four. 1t is the very
sort that farmer would choose, whose
fundamental principle in farming is gen.
erous manuring. The beautiful fields
of red clover and timothy, the former
in full bloom, and beginning to tangle
and lodge, made proper companion pic
lures for the ample squares of wheat
that lifted it's bearded heads in pride
above the high post fences that marked
the boundaries of the fields.
But while the charmed eye roves
over these magnificent wheat fields, and
we try to make mental calculation,
and if possible, answer the question,
"does farming pay" our carriage reach
es the brow of the long slope which
gradually inclines a half mile or more
to the river-shore, and in the centre of
this landscape stand the farm-buildings.
The view, as you descend this slope, is
a lovely one, with fields of growing
wheat on either hand, and directly in
front, STOPPING down to the rivers
brink, thirty acre field of the rankest
clover and timothy,
"Makes glad the heart that halls the sight. :"
But we must hasten on to pay our
respects to the hostess who awaits us,
and as we pass by the barn with its
long cattle-sheds and hay-mows on one
hand; and on the other, built to a line
are the wagon and carriage houses,
chicken houses, and other small build
ings, with even spaces between them ;
and all these buildings from base to
roof, and the neat .palingS are bright
with whitewash, which the rich emer-
aid settings of June landscape make,
by contrast, more striking and beauti-
full
The mansion is beautifully located,
about the third of mile from the riv
er-shore, and commands fine view OF
the river, which is broad and majestic
here, with the green shores of Sassa-
fras Neck, and the varied landscape OF
forest and fields, orchards and farm
houses. While our hostess is directing
the dinner arrangements, we take seat
on the parch fronting the river, and in
modern Bohemian style, interview .
our host, who gives us history of his
farming operation, which we will pro-
coed to note down, with the hope that
some of our doubling farmers, who
complain that farming wont pay"
may take courage from Mr.. Stackhouse' s
success, and be assured that liberal
manuring with judicious tillage will
always pay.
Five years ago when the present
owner moved on to this farm, his share
of the wheat crop (one-half,) J which was
put in by tenant, was THREE BUSHELS.
The wide expanse of cleared land now
seen from the front porch of the dwell
ling, was then hidden by athick growth
of brushwood and sapling timber and
what is at present wide, unbroken clov-
er-feld, every acre of which will cut two
and half tons of hay at least, was
then tangled thicket or barren, ex-
hausted soil, starved for the want of
manure and proper culture Mr.. Stack
house found much of the farm grown
up with bushes, which he has cleared
away, and some fields have been re-
claimed from the almost primitive for
est, the stumps pulled out and substan-
tial fences built. He did not waste his
time and money in buying patent ma
nures, but having good vessel land
ing on his farm, he went to Baltimore
and purchased stable manure, which
cost about one dollar for two-horse
load, when purchased in large quaint