Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-07-11

And one worthy Of limitation.

Down the Mississippi & Tennessee
railroad, seven miles south Of the
city, in this county of Shelby, lives
Robert Haggerty, a well known resi-.
dent whose recent exploits in the
farming line are worth recording.
To begin at the top, it may be best
to say that Mr.. Haggerty and his
worthy helpmate and companion are
both natives of the Emerald land, and
the Industrious Robert emigrated to
this country at an early period of his
career, carrying all of his worldly goods
in a small bundle tied to a stick. Mr..
Haggerty found his way to the Bluff
City and began life on his own account
as newspaper carrier.
His first success in this line was as
carrier of the old Memphis Bulletin.
The route he ran at first was worth a
bare living, but by close attention to
duty and industrious care he eventually
madeit yield him SIS per week. When
the Bulletin dwindled out of existance
Mr., Haggerty had few hundred
dollars, and he made judicious use of
his savings. He next obtained EN-.
ployment 10 the freight delivery bust
ness at the levee, purchased a couple
of drays and teams, increased his line
ofrolling stock as we'll as his business,
and finally secured the job of hauling
freight for the Mississippi & Tennessee
railroad.
His animal property by this
time had increased to drove of suf
fcient volume to cause Mr.. Haggerty
to ponder over the propriety of secur.
ing a woods range for those not in
active service. So in rs he rented a
we'll worn old cotton plantation Of
$40 acres. This is the place he now
owns, and which he has transformed
into rich, productive and most in
viting stock, fruit and hay farm.
The year Mr.. Haggerty took posses
sion Of the old place as a renter, a
big patch Of his ground was converted
into refugee and pauper camp. A
year later he purchased the land and
determined upon a system of i'm
provements which have since been
carried into effect, and which have
so altered the surroundings that few
familiar with its early history would
now recognize it as the same place.
The old cotton farm grows no cotton
now. Not lock of the staple is pro-
duced upon it. The once CALLED hill
sides now produce luxuriant grasses,
and on a thirty acre field
of this, one hundred and fifteen tons
of the choicest orchard and herd grass
was harvested this year. The yield
has all been stacked or housed for
local use exclusively. The same
thirty.acre field will be ready for the
mower again before frost, and another
liberal Outturn will be saved from it.
The Irish American yeoman was sat
isfed when he set in that the old field
would grow grasses equal to the best
blue grass lands of Kentucky, and
the result proves that he was correct
about it.
Extensive plank and wire fences
surround Mr.. Haggerty's farm, all put
there in place of the old style of rails.
They look better, are more durable,
and cost much less in the long run.
Besides he has put up capacious
barns, stables and outhouses. Now.
ing machines, improved plows and
farming utensils generally Of the
latest and most improved types are in
use on the Haggerty farm, and be has
more Of this useful paraphernalia than
any farmer in Tennessee. This is a
rather broad assertion, but will be
borne out by the proof.
In addition, there are many head of
6ne stock, including Jersey COWS, a
jersey bull valued at a thousand
dollars, and regarded by his owner as
the finest Of his breed in the State;
splendid blooded sheep, Aocks of brood
mares, and other stock, including
hogs. Among the latter is a specimen
weighing 800 lbs, mammoth brute
indeed, and visitors have been heard
to say he is as big as an ordinary ele.
phat, though this is slightly entrav-
agant comparison. The fact is, how
ever the big hog fills an ordinary sized
room all by himself.
In addition to the stock features
the brood Of fowls are worthy Of at.
tention. They embrace many varie-
ties, and their owner is now occupied
in sxcavating large pond eight
feet deep for their particular use.
Thirty seven excellent springs ofpure
water issue from the surface OF Mr..