The Rugbeian. (Rugby, Morgan Co., Tenn.) 1881-1882, 1882-09-02
MR.. COMPTON'S FARM.
Fentress County,
August 2Sth, 1882.

Mr.. COMPTON'S FARM.
On Wednesday, in company with our
friend Mr.. Blackjack, and half horse
apiece, we journeyed down to HulPs
ford and over into Fentress County, to
call upon an Ohio farmer who had
chosen the Cumberland Plateau as his
city of refuge from many ills tina. East
Tennessee is not heir to- 1t was a
pleasant morning, and the full flush Of
summer showed no sign that "leaves
have their time to fall, and as we passed
several farms right and left Of the road
the swelling corn on it's lofty stem told
us of a large yield to the acre, and that
it, even, was one of the profitable crops
of the table-land Arrived at Mr.
Comptons farm we found splendid
situation, the ground gently undlllating,
the fields we'll arranged, easy Of cult
walton, and, above all, the soil a fine
friable sandy loam, with just enough
clay to hold it we'll together. Mr..
Compton, in a newly-married state,
went ito his farm near y two years ago,
and at once began to bring nature
under the control of an intelligent agri-
culture, and given a year or two more to
carry out his plans, he will possess one
of the best farms Oh the plateau. The
soil, he says, is excellent and raises
crops that will Bear comparison with
those he has seen in his old county OF
Hamilton, Ohio. Red top grass here
grows all through the year, and he
pointed out to us some cattle belonging
to u neighbor, who had scarcely spent a
cent over them during the winter,
which were now as sleek and fat as the
most fastidious farmer or fancier could
desire. The grass all around for miles
was most luXuliant, and knee high, and
only wanting to be turned into beef
and mutton. Here WAS land by the
hundred thousand acres, as truly gold
field to the man who knows how to
turn it to good account, as are the
arrlferous earths of California and
Australia.
Mr.. Conpton's corn was looking well
although upon land which had received
beyond thorough cleaning and stirring
but little other attention Mr.. Comp
ton is not one, though, to take from the
soil only, and give nothing to it il
return, for he is preparing to cultivate
upon intelligent principles, as he is wei
assured it will respond a hundredfolc
to artificial or natural manures. He
has planted out considerable number
Of choice fruit trees. His sweet pota
toes are very fine, and his garden
promises to be II housekecpcrs delight
when it has received it's contemplate
attention.
As healthy location Mr.. Compton
: cannot speak too highly of his farm, al
when he first came his health was 81
that days work was hard work indeed
whereas now his strength is completed,
restored, and labor is the creates
pleasure.
During the day we tramped through
the long grass to Skull Cave Creek, t.
see Parson Browns grist mill. TIL,
mill and wild situation are worth
, visit, the latter, by the hand of nature
!, suggestive of contemplative sonnets
and the former, by the hand of man, o
a building, like his own, 'fearfully an,
+ wonderfully made"
> Well looked after by Mrs. Compton
$ not as regards the spoons, but as to GU
e creature comforts, we started on on
$ way home, meeting Squire Hull on tn
b road, who for quarter of century ha
S been plateau authority. He has goo,
: farm. and owns some 1000 acres
These lords of the land are as common
e in this republican country as in tn
r old monarchies of the eastern hemi
: sphere; but here, formerly, he who ha,
e the most land was the worst off, as tn
t taxes were more than the produce O
:, the unattended soil. "This is won
4 derful land, Sir" said working masol
t to Mr.. Blackjack, a while ago. "See
r there's man who owns two Thousand
0 acres of land carrying mortar for Pa
Geary" This was fact, and fact i
0 is that "this is wonderful land"