Montgomery County sentinel., 1882-06-23

afOunu Inc, was Suuuenly pusneu lHlO IL
field Of pleasure and delight. Passing from
more practical grounds was confronted
with the evidences Of theoretical, amateur
and practical husbandry.
The large field of cabbage stood like in
iantry in some one of Napoleon's epic cam
pagns-the strawberry gardens which inter
vened now reddening under the summers
rays-the little lettuce walks which gave a
shadow of interest--tomato vines, curling
around strips Of cigar boxes, and the pa,s-
ley beds where "the babies do grow" all
tended to heightcn the additional picture of
husbandry which il was now my pleasure
to look upon.
The brief time assigned me the varied OBJ
jects left but little opportunity to inquire
into the reasons and whereiores, and il
fail in giving practical demonstration of
everything that met my view, would ask
that it be attributed more TO the want of
time and examination, as well as my some
what sere experience.
Agriculture is indeed q jealous mistress,
and he who would win her smiles or court
her favor, must indeed be faithful lover
not to shiver or shrek beneath winters
blast, doze under the rays of summers
sun, or throw on the poetic when spring is
intoning the first bars of its idyl, striking
bright emerald notes from the tips of the
trees, but at all times there must be a
ceaseless interest and devotion. Deep down
in the virgin earth its richness is to be found
and he who would bring it to the surface must
endure the hardships and the trials which
attend the seasons. There is never a cloud
without silver lining, and though the hon
est farmer may often grow disconsolate, yet
when the autumn Of nature has let her fires
60 out, and all is gleom and sadness, there
ore nc heaItnstones which are warmer and
brighter than his.
Mr.. Ray caught the poetry and the prac-
tical In agriculture when he infused that
enthusiasm and energy which has crowned
his labors with success If l had reason to
admire the lowland and other portions of
his estate was certainly lost in admiration
when | stood almost waist-deep in his up
land gass. These fields had only been seed
ed a year, and | have never seen them
equallcd save some twenty-five years ago in
the rich land of Loudoun county, Va. The
grasses were timothy and clover, orchard
and blue grass. The two former were as
rich as one could desire, the blue grass was
heavy and well-set, whilst the orchard grass
was ripe with luxuriant promise. Mr.. Ray
here remarked that these grasses were not
the production of manipulated fertilizers or
of vitrolized bone; that his fertilizers had
been of the best barn-yard manure, Peruvi-
an guano, lime and plaster. That he had
desisted from manipulated fertilizers and
vitroliZed bone because after few years it
would impoverish the land an leave it as
barren as an ash-bank.
"Sir," | remarked, 81 have confidence in
your assertion, and | am satisfied that you
are at the rock bottom basis of legitimate
and successful agriculture. | have immedi-
ate friends who have been purchasing from
eight to twelve tons per year OF these manip-
ulated guanos-they have done tolcrably
well so far as the revenue per acre OF wheat
was concerned, but their fields are now
bleak and bare of anything like verdure."
Pushing on little further and resting on
the western slope of gentle decivity, shad-
ed by hills, | came to u fish-pond. 1t is the
Of Mr.. Ray to make this pond no
less productive than the fertility Of the sur
soil 1t covers an area of perhaps
an acre OF ground. 1t is so arranged as to
be free from any damage attending freshets.
In the centre OF this lake he had built ro-
mantle mound, turreted with white flint
and other stone. In the centre of this mound
is handsome shrubbery. From the shore to
the mound Mr.. Ray contemplates erecting a
rustic bridge. One of the most interesting
features connected with this lake arises from
the fact that its head rests in the wall of an
old mill which is supposed to have been built
somewhere in the time of William and Mary.
In cleaning out the debris of this old mill,
in order to give the fish cool place in the
warm hours of the day, Mr.. Ray removed
many pieces of timber which although cut
over hundred years ago was as solid as a
tlint-stone. The species of fish which Mr..
Ray intends to raise is the German carp.
As already remarked, your correspondent
has declared that he does know something of
agriculture, and he still continues to hold to
that idea. He remembers when his father
rolled the corn in tar and plaster, in order
that the birds Of the forest after pulling the
soft shoots would not find it palatable, and
thereby would forstay any depredations.-
This practice Mr.. Ray had put into full
operation and finds effective
The wheat, oats, rye and corn are all ma
turing with great promise, and are designed
more Tor consumption than market. Grass
is considered the best crop this larm-the
there is a surplus of everything which, of
course, finds its way to market.
The barn-yard is not without special at.
structed as TO break off the winters winds
and absorb the rays of the warm SUM-
Here seventy-ive mich cows have their
care and attention and all by German, his
wife and daughter The stabling for these
cows is complete; every animal has its stall
in the rear is arranged canal or drainage
which takes off all the urine and matter
which may accumulate. The stables, whilst
warm in winter, are well ventilated in sum-
mer. In the passage way, which divides the
several rows oicows, are placed large troughs
in which the feed is miXel and these troughs
are moved along upon rollers. The cows
are generally housed from the cool nights
OF fall until the first or last of May, when
they become striplings and likely to calve
they are allowed to roam at pleasure Ii
Mr.. ltay desires to raise his calves they are
taken from the COW at three days old and
led on SKINNED milk. If for market, then
they are allowed TO remain with the cows
Tor three Or four weeks. To one who is
interested in dairying matters u visit to and
inspection of these yards will not be with
out advantage,
The stables, for the horses and colts
OF the most substantial breed, rendered ad-
ditlonal evidences OF great care and fore.
sight To and from the barn-yards and
stables are wide avenues leading to the
streams or pasture fields. Along these ave
nues Mr.. Ray is planting every variety of
shade tree-and here and there are observed
the Sickle pear, delicious fruit, and other
fruit trees.
In this admirably managed estate there
is the most perfect system. A place for
every thing and every thing in its place.
The rainy days are never lost, but things
are 50 arranged that the nine regular hands
can all the time be proftably engaged, in
and hewing post cutting cow feed
and various other important essentials which
make up and fill the daily routine of thrifty
farmers life
Having now gone over and given but an
imperfect sketch of this admirable farm.
stead, |: was somewhat past the hour of
two in the afternoon when we drove into
the lawn surrounding the immediate home
stead. 1t was glad day, an accomplished
governess had just closed the season of
study, and the rich laugh of joyous and
happy girlhood, telling of bright dreams,
was breaking through the clusters of honey
sucke which climbed in thick and rich pro.
fusion around the mansion. If the farm
was blossoming with the rich fruits of as.
siduous cultivation, so the hearthstone was
warm with love and gladness. If Gods sun