The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-06-29


As the cultivation of wheat, after plant
ing and daring the progress of its growth,
is a subject which at present excites a
good deal Of interest and is one to which
the agriculturists of our own county are
directing attention, We, on Monday last,
accompanied a small party of gentlemen
from our town to the farm Of Mr. Levi w.
Croft, eleven miles east Of Lancaster city,
in that county, in Pennsylvania, where the
new process has been and is now being
tested. In the Nail of the 7th inst, and
ia our agricultural column, We gave from
the Practical Farmer very full and clear
account d the new process and of the i'm
pIements used in carrying it out, as well
as Of the results attained up to that time.
1t was to see the wheat thus sewn and cul-
tivated at period so near maturity as the
present, standing upon the ground, that the
party was made up, consisting of the Hon.
VIM. 4. Hamilton and Geo. ". Harris,
Esq. who, as is we'll known, are quite ex-
tensively engaged in farming, and are fully
alive to the Importance Of any discoveries
or improvements which may be suggested
They were accompanied by Henry K. Tice,
Esq, and hy Edw. w. Mealey, Esq.
aCLoy
By this party it was determined to take
the Western Maryland Railroad as far as
the Frederick Junction and thence the
Pennsylvania Line road from Frederick
through Liltlestown, Hanover, Columbia
and York TO Lancaster. Leaving Hagers-
town BY the Clio morning train, the party
had nearly two haurs to spare, which time
was passed in a survey Of the now noted
farm known as "Cloverbrook, in one Of
the angles formed by the two railroads
which cross each other at that point. 1t
IS known as Middleburg station. Clover
brook contains about $50 acres, and is d.
vided into two farms, aud is one compact
body, through which the Western Mary
land Railroad runs just one mile. This
property is owned by E. A. Clabangh, Esq.
and is one of the most highly improved
estates in Western Maryland TWAS upon
this farm, in the old homestead which is
now his home, that Mr.. Clabaugh was born,
and it is here, after having brought the
laud to the highest state of perfection by
cultivation, that he is engaged in rearing
and trimming the thoroughbred horses which
have become noted throughout the eoun-
try as among the fastest on the American
turf.
Taking the State Line cars, which are
run by the Pennsylvania Railroad Com
pany from Frederick to Philadelphia, our
party struck, about the Pennsylvania line,
land less productive than that left behind
and not SO well cultivated. Approaching
Littlestown the land and cultivation i'm
proved. That town appeared to be quite
business place, aud beyond it, approach
ing Hanover, the neatness and care of
Pennsylvania farming became very mani
fest. There was noticed what was very
apparent throughout the entire trip, that
every foot Of ground that can be made to
produce blade of grass is utilized, and in
one place clump of forest trees-oaks,
hiekorics and chestnuts-of no inconsid-
cradle extent, was sown in wheat fairly
up into the corners of the fences. This
portion of the crop was lighter, of course,
than in the open ground, but still the pro-
duct was not to be despiced. This prac-
tice of utilizing every foot of ground was
more manifest further on.
Between Hanover and York, as indeed
along the whole line, in Pennsylvania, the
country was not only carefully cultivated
and very luxuriant, but decidedly pictur-
esque.
About noon we crossed the Susquehanna
from Wrightsviile into Lancaster county,
at Columbia, aud at ten minutes after one
reached Lancaster. This is city in size
and all the elements and appearance Of
substantial wealth worthy of the rich
county whose name it bears.
Takinga carriage at half-past one clock,
the party struck the New Holland pike
eastward, through the garden beds Of Ian
caster county, having to go about eleven
miles to the farm Of Mr.. Croft where the
cultivated wheat was to be seen.
About halfpast three o'clock we arrived
at the farm of Mr.. Levi Croft, where we
found some twenty odd farmers and others
from Berks, Chester, Adams and other To-
calities, inspecting the wheat that had un-
dergoae ploughing, and there was the IA
nous growth spread out on a gently rising
hillside in three fields Of ten acres each
one Of amber aud two of Clawson. The
farm of Mr. Croft contains, it is proper to
say, sixty acres of the very richest land in
the richest portion of Lancaster county,
and to this fact may to some extent be
ascribed the luxurianee of these fields.
But there was the wheat growing though
yet quite green, having been sown between
the 23d Of September and 4th of October,
whilst other varieties of wheat were nearly
ripe. Although standing on the porch Of
Dir. Crotfs house and looking over the
fields, where each stalk stood up straight
and stiff as an Indian arrow, the heads OF
the different rows could be seen 10 .oueh
each other and blend together over the