Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-03-31
THE VICTORIA ESTATE.


George Grant of the Victoria Colony Of
Kansas has been in this city during the past
few days purchasing stock for his iarm, to be
sent out early in the coming season. a re-
purtcr of the Tribune obtained from him many
interesting particulars connected with the es
tate, the different breeds of cattle, sheep aud
horses imported by him to be crossed with ua
tive stock, and the results already realized.
MIR. Grant talked freely on these topics, and
from the conversation the following statement
was gathered:
The Victoria estate or stock farm is in the
heart Of Kansas, and has frequently been re-
ferrad to in the Tribune, aud may be looked
upon as one of the most successful enterprises
in connection With agriculture 10 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, be-
longing to the families Of the landed gentry of
England and the wealthy merchants OF the U.
s. They have purchased from one to SIX square
miles OF land, ranging from 64O to 1000 acres
each, aud are erecting handsome stone RESIDENCE
oil the Kansas limestone. which resembles close
~ the building stone used IN Paris, and which
is found iu quarrles 10 different parts OF the
State. Such has been the success of the en-
terprse that MIR. Grant is now in treaty for
the State Of Kansas, comprising about 900
square miles or 570,0 900 acres. This would be
larger, with one exception. than any estate
held by any dukednm iu Europe. 1t Is the in
teption Of the culonistS 10 devote themselves TO
stock raising.
MIR. Grant has wnsered 1000 ewes with
loss Of ouy one per cent. Tins stock CONSISTS
of Colorado graded ewes, crossed with import.
ed Euglish long woocd rams, such as Oxford
Downs, Cotswolds hiucolus, Lecestcrs, aud
Shropshires, selected from the first ticks OF
ENGLAND and imported here at cost OF from
$3.50 TO $3.50 each. This success in wiuterlDg
stock has determined hlr. Grant to increase
his flock this coming season 10 lO.OoO ewes,
his aim being to have hoek OF loo OOo OF I'M
nroyed breeds within FIVE years. He has also
largely improved his stock OF cattle, having
inward of 500 youug cows which have been
crossed with imported bulls of the highest
pedigree. Two of these bulls, when only a
few hours old, were purchased of the Hon. NJ.
Ii. Cochran of HilIhurst, Canada, at 81 900
each, and are now held al $4,000. Mr. Grant
is now negotiating with Col Lewis e.. Morris
of Morrisauia, for two Of his Bates bulls Col.
Morris was the purchaser of the $4,000
cow at Utica, and Mr. Grant is getting
some of his choicest sttc OK for breeding oo
the Plains. Mr. Grant is also paying parti-
cuar attention to the Improvement 10
the breed of horses and has imported recently
the Euglish stallion Flpddeu, the only repre-,
sentative in this cuuhtry OF the well known
Thormanby, which died at Newmarket, Eug-
land on Saturday, Feb. 81, 1878. This celc-
bratcd horse won for his owner, James Merry,
at the Derby in 1860, nearly $5OO,OOO. MIR.
Grant has also sent out to his farm fine
thoroughbred stallion Of the lexington stock.
Contrary to the general opinion Of sheep
raisers 10 this country, Mr.. Grant decided to
cross Meruoes, or natives, with the long woos,
and his experiments Of last year fully justify
the cul rectnesso oi his judgment The Mcrlnoes,
With imported blood will clip from seven to ten
pounds of wool, being nearly double that OF
the ordinary st, ok Of this country. Nh. Grant
has introduced the Black Angus Polled cattle,
breed scarcely kuown to this country, but
which commands, 10 the Smithfeld, London,
market higher price as beef than even the
celebrated Shorthorns, or in fact any other
breed. The Black Polled bulls we're crossed
with Cherokee heiiers, with most satisfactory
results 90 per Ct. of the calves taking exactly
after the bulls.
Mr. Grant believes in shelteriug cattle
through the winter and feeding them when
neces sary. Many Of the sheep and cattle
owners Of the West, during the past winter
lost nearly one half Of their stock, through ex-
po.ure and cold while Mr.. Grant has not lost
more than one per Ct The cost per head for
fet d averaged about 30 cents. His feed tor
sheep on stormy days is an allowance OF crushed
corn. which costs about | cent per day per
head. In dofcrcuce to his head shepherd, who
was an advocate for hay, MIR. Grant divided
flock Of . 500 young sheep, feeding one-halt on
hay and the other on crushed corn. The death
rate was "a to l, 10 favor of those ted On
crushed corn. In stormy weather, ne now
faeds on crushed corn altogether which can be
done at great saving Of labor. Que man can
easily provide the crushed corn and put it into
the bins for 10000 sheep per day, while it re.
qures i've to feed hay. MIR. Grant has
experimental successfully with Alfalfa clover
and Intends to SOW 300 acres this season, be.
iievlng 1t to be the best feed for cattle and
sheep Convinced that prevention is better
than cure, he has shecp-bath in which he
dips his sheep twice year, immediately after
shearing and at the end Of the Summer and
by his arrangements he eau dip 1900 sheen
per day. A solution OF 20 pounds of tobacco
and five pounds of phur to the 100 gallons
of water is prepared by being boiled for two
hours in two tanks, holding each 900 GALLONS,
and used 10 the bath at a temperature of l20
degrees Fahrenheit. The solution is then run
iato trough "a feet Ions and SIX feet deep,
and the sheep are driven up to 1t 10 single hlc
through barrow passage on level with the
top, and fall into the water. After swimming
through the water, the sheep ascend from the
bath BY steps to dripping corral or ltcloSure,
where they remain until the wash runs back
into the bath, 81 that nothing is wasted. lhe
cost is about two cents per head Tor eaco
bath, and yields to the owner a return IN
wool, from the improved condition OF the
sheep, OF at least half pound, and worth 20
cents per head. This bath also keeps out scao,
tick, and other vermn, to which sheep arc