Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1883-07-21

I
er Gods sun shines upon a lovlier
spot / could form no conception of
its beauty. and now at times am lost
In wonder and admiration. If there
is one serious objection to this coun-
try, | am candid to confess that |
have not seen it. The people are in
telligent and thrifty, and the fields
are teeming with their rich products.
L have never seen such grass as is
grown here. To give you faint
conception of this plant, there is a
field containing one hundred acres,
upon which fully FIVE head of beef
cattle and twelve or fifteen head of
horses have been grazing all spring
and now the grass will average knee
high on every acre of it. Hundreds
of tons of hay might be made from
this pasture. While these lands
yield abundantly to the husband
man, still, as stock country it
strikes me even more forcibly. |
find nearly everybody here turning
their attention to this branch of
agriculture. The highest grades of
cattle are found here and as you will
directly see, command enormous
prices. Yesterday, in company with
Mr.. Thomas Emmert, of northwest
Missouri, and the Messrs. Rogers,
visited the most celebrated farm in
this State, and one of the most cele-
brated in the United States. 1t is
owned by Mr.. Chas. Z. Lenard, who
is at this time travelling in Europe.
1t contains eighteen hundred acres
and a magnificent residence that
cost SIT 900. AT first sight it remind
ed me of some grand old Virginia
home, but, after a while, l soon be-
came confident that it was far ahead
Of anything that / had ever seen.
We were at once met by his polite
and gentlemanly manager Mr. Reese,
who | found to be a West Virginian.
After giving us cordial welcome
he placed US in the hands of his
herdsman, Mr.. James Y. Brand, who
we found to be very intelligent and
thoroughly posted in his department
of labor. We were conducted over
the farm and given the following in
formation: The farm has on it 1900
head of full-blooded merino sheep;
$50 head of graded yearling heifers,
and 120 head of registered short-horn
DurhamS, which is said to be one of
the finest herds of cattle in America.
1t contains forty head of cows, many
of which have taken premiums in
different States one COW, we were
informed, had taken more premiums
than any other in America. He had
Is yearling registered heifers which
hQ coils of from COE0 RI CG00
The following is a history of few
animals which he proposes to exhibit
this fall at the various fairs: Angel
lea q. age Is months, weight 1885,
price $500; Angelica %, age 3 years,
weight 16l0,price $500; 9th Duchess,
age years, weight 1855, price 81 900,
British Maid, age IL months, weight
1885, price $780,. British Beauty,
age 2 years, weight 1890, price 5000;
9th Royal RavenwOOd, age 2 years.
weight 2025, price 81 600 9th Royal
Ravenwood, age IA months, weight
1890, price $1,000; Earl of Sharon,
age 3 years, weight POLO, price $500
Royal Champion, age II months,
weight 1885, price $500.
Mr.. Lenard also has II jacks which
he imported from Spain worth from
5000 to $1,000 each. We are inform
ed that the stock now ON his farm
is valued at $50, 600, and that he ex.
poets to bring with him from Eu-
rope 1000 worth of POLAND, An
gels and Galloway cattle. Mr.. Len,
ard is a full graduate of the Univer-
sity of Missouri, and is saiu to be a
man of unusual intelligence and
finds ready sale for all of his stock.
l find that he and others have laid
the foundation for improved stock,
upon which farmers all over this and
other Western States are building.
How l longed to have with me
Messrs. Jacob Miller, Jack Thomas,
John E. Boyd, 1. b. Snodgrass, Eu-
gene Baker, and other Berkeley and
Jefferson County farmers. 1t is
day ever to be remembered in my
life. l have visited other stock
farms which are extensive and prof
liable. But having already written
too much 1 will now close.
Yours Respectfully,
B. F. FIERY.