The Western advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1872-1874, 1874-07-11
MOBILES COUNTY FARMS,

MOBILES COUNTY FARMS.
TIE FARMS OF MILLER, HUMlSTON &
COMPANY-FOUR FARMS-IAPKOVE-
MENTS AND CHOPS.
Thus far the most extensive farmers
in Nobles-county, are Miller, Humiston
& Co., the managers of the National
Colony. From the first it has been the
policy Of the managers to avoid, as far
as possible, the formation of very large
farms in one body of land, as detriment-
al to the thorough development of the
county. Where parties therefore have
taken large amount of land, it has
been taken in small tracts in different
localities. Acting upon this policy
themselves, the Colony Company, have
opened four farms. three of them con-
tanning about a half section of land
each, and the fourth containing aquar-
ter section. Our object now is to give
4 brief account of these farms.
THE TOWN FARM.
Beginning on the north, we shall
mention first the farm nearest the town.
This contains 100 acres of land abutting
upon the town plat. 1t is this year
sown principally to wheat and is under
the management Of Mr.. S. d. Sprague.
It is not the design of the Colony Com
pany to shape this into any permanent
farm, for the town is growing so rapid
]y in that direction that in a year or
two the land will he required for town
purposes and will be cut into town lots.
The Seminary Buildings, it is expected,
will he located on this farm, as beautiful
grounds can he formed here. At a tri-
fling expense the ''slew'' on the east
side of this farm can he transformed in
to a lake containing clear water the
year round. Along the west front of
this farm is Humiston Avenue, 100 feet
wide, and planted on both sides with
J-ombardy poplars. Following this
Avenue north, just one mile from the
town limits, we come to the
BUCKEYE FARM.
This farm contains 320 acres, the Su-
perintendent being Mr.. Charles Fetch
er. There is comfortable farm house
and good stable on the PREMISES
The principal crops this season, are
about 100 acres of wheat, 80 acres of
flax, 20 acres of oats and about 30acres
of corn. The land is rather fiat, and
has been somewhat difficult to subdue
but it is being brought into subsection
and will soon he fine farm. Mr.. F.,
we believe claims the banner corn field,
and we have not seen anywhere this
season, a cleaner nor finer stand of
corn. All the crops are looking well,
and should they suffer no more from
the grasshoppers, there will he good
yield. From this farm, we passed
southwest to the
OKABENA FARM.
This farm lies about 4 mile and a
half west of town on the Lu Verne
road. 1t contains also 800 acres, and is
under the management of Mr.. Nj. D.
Sargent, who is assisted by Mr.. Will.
cox. Mr.. Sargent was formerly superin.
tendent of the large farm Of Judge Van
Volkenburg, of Michigan, and is an
enthusiastic farmer, and, what is bet.
ter, is an enthusiastic advocate OF
prairie farms before all others. There
is neat farm house OIL this farm also
and a stable which is a model of com.
pactness and neatness. Under one roof
and that an apparently small one, We
found room for from four to six teams
space for thresher and other nipple.
ments, a number of bins for grain, and in
neat little corner, a pump, which,
with one or two promptings, brought
up an abundance of cool water. Thou
sands of trees have been planted or
this farm, among which are several
thousand European larches. The farm
extends one mile along the road, and
nearly the whole front is set with trees
An Usage Orange hedge has been set
and Mr.. S. is confident that by cover
ing the hedge the first winter or two
it can Ike made a success in this climate
The crops on this farm are about as
follows: 80 to 100 acres of wheat, 81
acres of flax, 16 acres of oats, and 20 t.
% acres of corn, with quantity of pc
tatoes and other vegetables. Some hal
dozen varieties Of wheat are being ties
ted, the principle acreage being in Ret
Osaka, Rio Grande and White Mich
gan. There are two acres of Califor
mia wheat, sown as an experiment
which excels probably any wheat in thu
county. The stalks stand about fvt
feet high, and almost as thick as grass
This, together with another piece O.
bearded wheat, has scarcely beer
touched by the grasshoppers, and Mr.
S. thinks that they will not eat bearded
wheat while they can find any of TIN
smooth varieties. From this farm, ",
pass southeast to the
! OCnEEDA FARM,
which lies on the west bank of Ocheed:
| lake, about two -miles southeast O
town. This farm contains between tw,
and three hundred acres, and is unde
the management of Captain Miner, as
sisted by Mr.. Panelle. This farm il
! co.,o.on,, oooooolo1 ~ IN Tia 1ooA =.