The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-06-03
THE VICTORIA ESTATE.
George Grants Model Farm in
Kansas.
TFrom the n. Y. Tribune

- LEAoin bAiO ~ 1 AEA1AAACs
George Grant of the Victoria Colony of
Kansas has been in this city during the past
few days purchasing stock for his farm, to be
sent out early in the coming season. A re-
porter of the Tribune obtained from him
many interesting particulars connected with
the estate, the different breeds of cattle, sheep
and horses imported by him to be crossed
with native stock, and the results already
realized. Mr.. Grant talked freely on these
topics, and from the conversation the follow
ing statement was gathered:
] he Victoria estate stock farm is in the
heart of Kansas, and may be looked upon as
one of the most successful enterprises in con-
nection with agriculture in the United States
1t is unlike any other of the colonies recently
organized in the West, in that the settlers
are men Of wealth and position, belonging
to the families of the landed gentry of Eng
laud and the wealthy merchants of the
United States. They have purchased from
one to six square miles of land, ranging from
$40 to 1900 acres each, and arc erecting
handsome stone residences of the Kansas
limestone, which resem bles closely the build
ing stone used in Paris, and which is found
in quarries in different parts OF the State.
such has been The success of the enterprise
that Mr.. Grant is now in treaty for the pur-
chase of the whole cou lty of Ellis, in the
State of Kansas, comprising about 900 square
miles or $4,000 acres. This would be lar
ger, with one exception, than any estate held
by any dukedom in Europe. is the inten-
ton of the colonists to devote themselves to
stock raising.
Mr.. Grant has wintered 1000 ewes, with
loss of only one per cent. This stock con-
sists of Colorado graded ewes. crossed with
i'm ported English long WOoled rams, such as
Oxford Downs, Cotswolds, Lncolns, Leiees-
ters, and Shropshires, selected from the first
hOcks of England and imported here at a cost
of from $3.50 to $3.50 each This success III
wInterin0 stock has determined Mr.. Grant to
| increase his flock this coming season to TO-,
900 ewes, his aim being to have flock of 100
| 600 of improved breeds within five years.
He has also largely imprC we'd his stock of
/ cattle, having upward of 500 young COWS,
which have been crossed with imported bulls
| of the highest pedigree. Two of these bulls.
when only few hours old, were purchased
of the Hon. NJ. IL. Cochran of Hillhurst, Can
ada, at $1,000 each, and are now held at
$4,000. Mr.. Grant is now negotiating with
Col. Lewis g. Morris of Morrisiana for two
of his Bates bulls. Col. Norris was the pur-
chaser of the $40, 900 COW at Utica, and Mr..
Grant Is getting some of his choicest stock
fer breeding on the Plans. Mr.. Grant is al
so paying particular attention to the i'm
provCment Of the breed of horses, and has
imported recently the English stallion Flod-
den, the only representative in this country
fthe well-known Thormonby, which died
at Newmarket, England, on Saturday, Feb.
27. 1873. This celebrated horse won for his
owner, James Merry, at the Derby in 1850,
nearly 100000 Mr.. Grant has also sent
out to his farm fine thoroughbred stallion
of the Lexington stock. Contrary to the
general opinion of sheep-raisers in this coun-
try, Mr.. Grant decided to cross Merinoes or
natives, with the long-wOols, and his exper-
iments of last year fully justify the correct
ness Of his Judgment The Mennoes
with imported blood will clip from seven to
ten pounds of wool, being nearly double that
of the ordinary stock of this country. Mr..
| Grant has introduced the Black Angus
Polled cattle, breed scarcely known in this
country, bat which commands, in the
Smithheld, London, market higher price
as beef than even the celebrated Shorthorns,
or in fact any other breed. The Black
Polled bulls were crossed with Cherokee
heifers, with most satisfactory results, SO per
cent of the calves taking exactly after the
bulls.
Mr.. Grant believes in sheltering cattle
through the Winter and feeding them when
necessary Many of the sheep and cattle
owners Of the West, during the past winter
lost nearly one half of their stock, through
exposure and cold, while Mr.. Grant has not
lost more than one per cent. The cost per
head for feed averaged 80 cents His feed
fol- sheep on stormy days is an allowance OF
crusked corn, which costs about one cent per
day per head. In Difference to his head
shepherd, who was an advocate for hay, Mr..
| Grant divided a flock of $500 young sheep,
feeding one-half on hay and the other on
crushed corn. The death rate was "a to l,
| in favor of those fed on crushed corn. In
stormy weather, he now feeds on crushed
corn altogether, which can be done at a great
saving of labor. One man can easily provide
! the crushed corn and put it into the bins for
10000 sheep per day, while 1t requires five
men to feed hay. Mr.. Grant has expert
mented successfully with Alfalfa clover and
intends to COW 800 acres this season, beIiev-
ing it to be the best feed for cattle and sheep.
Convinced that prevention is better than
cure, he has a sheep-bath in which he dips
his sheep twice year, Immediately after
shearing and at the end of the Summer,
and by his arrangements he can dip 5000
sheep per day. a solution of 20 pounds of
4 tobacco and Ave pounds of sulphur to
the 100 gallons of water is prepared by being
| boiled for two hours in two tanks, holding
| each 200 gallons, and used in the bath at a
| temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The
I solution is then run into a trough "A feet long
1 and six feet deep, and he sheep are driven
up to 1t in single file through narrow pas
sage on level with the top, and fall in the
water. After swimming through the water,
/ the sheep ascend from the bath by steps to a
! dripping corral or Enclosure, where they re-
mann until the wash runs back into the bath,
so that nothing is wasted. The cost Is about
| two cents per head for each bath, and yields
/ to the owner a return in wool, from the
| improved condition of the sheep, of at least
/ half pound, and worth 90 cents per head.
/ This bath also keeps out scab, tick, and other
| vermin, to which sheep are subject. Several
interesting experiments in crossing imported
stock viii be made this Summer and the re-