Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1880-04-08
A Farm in Western Texas.

Hans Nickel, tho travelling correspondent
Of the San Antonio cypress, has made visit to
Capote farm. which was purchased by Major
Alexander Moore. an ex-army officer, com
piising 20,C01 acres, fronting on the Guada-
lupe River OH the North. and running back
ten miles, taking in Cupote hill. Ii is
situated in Guadalupe County, fifteen miles
Southeast Of SeSuin. and ten milcs from
kingsbury, station on the Sunset Railroad.
Major Muorc to, k possession Of the farm on
tho 10th day Of Novcn nbcr, 1873.
The first part Of the farm visited was a
field of 100 acres. Here we're growing
wheat. rye. barley, oats and alfalfa, or Cali
fornia clover In the rear Of the field was
gang Of men working on n ditch which
dlains number Of springs near hc Capote,
and said ditch is over three miles in lcnglh
1t is three feet wide at the bottom and ave-
RACES over thicc and half feet in depth
1t is Intended not only to drain and make
available some 100 or 500 acres Of very rich
land but will also be used far irriga,ing
purposes. at the South end ot The field
were three breaking pows at work lust
finishing this years breaking Of new ground
Each plow had attached seven yokcs of large
oxen, aud the pillow was run ten inches deep
IL the field we're three teams narrowing with
three horses in each team; two rcllcrs, aud
two two horse grain drills. while two men
were sowing oats broadcast. by the time
we had made the round Of this field We
travelled eight miles. This field comprises
the actual farming. or grain raising, that
will be done this season. but it j. tho lntcu-
ton which will. probably, be nccomo
rli>hcd by another year, to get from | 800 to
1000 under cultivation. Forty miles of
fence were built within tho last fonrccn
mouths. The entire farm is enclosed, aud
there arc numerous cross or section fences
making field pastures--onc of which has
$4,000 acrcs-inrms, lots, etc. The corral
is hollow square Of sheds and stalls Of about
1--WE acres in extent, in the ccn,re Of
which is q watering trough, filed by a wind
mill. The stock is one Of the leading features
Of tho Capoto farm There are about $50
horses. l3l Of which nre fine blood mares,
selected personally from sonlc Of the finest
stock farms in the United States. They are
used rs farm horses and for breeding first
class draft and carriage horses. There are
los large work oxen. In the rear, ON the
South Of Cap0tc. is the stock rancho having
$500 head ofcatllc. There arc also twcnty,nne
head Of short horn and Dcvonshre bulls and
calves. The hog rancho is also located in tho
Southern portion Of tho farm, and has en- it
now over G000 head Of fine Berkshire hogo,
for whose special benefit there will be planted
this seusun fifteen acres OF Jerusalem ar,i.
choSes. The goat rancho comprises twelve
full -bloodcd Angora bucks, and some six
hundred nannies. Besides tho above is n
large poultry .housc, with several improved
breeds Of chickens, ducks, turkeys and pea
fowls. On Capo,c iarm arc employed en- an
average, about scyen!y>fSe mon the year
round Eserything is done with military
precision. There are Gftcen or twenty lG
inches sulkv plows, harrows. cultivu;ars. self
dropping corn planters corn husker and
shclcT. ,hrcsher and n portable oightccn
horse steam engine, which is used for grind
ing corn, barley and rye Or feed. wlIch s
mixed with cut straw, thrcShin., and nj
present is running the saw mill, Luz Will .non
be replaced hero By a stationary engine.
The saw mill is used to saw timber fJv home
use. and will be employed to cnnYcrt the
black walnut into lumber Or shipment East,
Of which it 10 estimated that there IL over
5000, 600 feet on the farm. The blacksmith
shop employs two skilled men, the :imc of
ore being taken mp in sharpening pows and
keeping tools iii order Besides tho regular
field crops n regular garlcnor is employed
for the raising of all Kinds Of vegetables for
the table use Of tho proprietor of the hosnc
and his large force of laborcrs; also, fine
orchard Of all kinds of fruits. and vine.
yard is being planted this spring. All this
has been done in fourteen months