Daily Kennebec journal., 1883-07-21
DaiIp kenneber 5ournal.
A Scientific Farmer.
How AGRicuLruRs is MADE TO PAY.

The nearest approach to scientific farming
| in Sussex County, n. j., Is on the Red Gate
Farm. owned by the Hon. Henry c. Kelsey.
The farm is on the Springdale road. near the
| town of Newton. and was purchased by Mr..
Kelsey some 10 wears ago. At that time,
except for its superior location. there was
nothing 10 distinguish this from other farms
adjacent. One of the first acts of Mr.. Kelsey
was to rebuild all the fences. Solid walls
were erected with the stone gathered from
the fields When these failed plain board
fences were constructed. Each field had
high-framed gate painted red The fences
were whiiewashed, the red gates and white
panels making an agreesblc contrast Then
began system of f.rtilsxing which, to the
average mind looked like extrsvagancc. New
barns were bailt and a village of out-houses
soon adorned the place Passers-by drew up
to take good look at the improvements. II
was the almost universal verdict that the pro.
prietor would never see his money again"
But MIR. Kelsey went right ON with his eN,
penditures. From a great hill nearly a
mile back water was brought in pipes to
every field. Blooded calves, lambs, and
hogs began to arrive, carefully So.
lected by Mr.. Kelsey after thorough
course of reading to determine the best
breeds. Even the fowls of the yard were
selected by his forethought. Though but sell
dom on the farm in person, his active mind
planned everything, and nothing was left to
run itself" Patrick De Vaney, an indus
trious farmer, was engaged, and he has had
the general supervision of the place for the
last nine years, proving most faithful and
prudent manager, assigning to each field its
due care and making it yield to the general
prosperity.
The smooth fields lying along the Spring
do 10 nd N .lr;v Ia
Jersey-are either devoted to grass, potatoes,
or corn, the manager alternating the crops
and yearly cultivating the soil with the utmost
thoroughness and with liberal expenditure
of money for fertilizers. Wood ashes mixed
with plaster are now principally used, in ad
dition to the immense amount of stable ma.
nures obtained from the barnyards. Nothing
is allowed to be wasted. and a use is found
for everything. About 80 cows are kept,
chiefly Jerseys. Mr.. Kelsey maintains his
faith in making butter rather than selling
milk. Some 50, 900 worth of butter was sold
last year, and large number of fine calves
are being raised, valued at from $4,000 to $1,000
About $1,000 worth additional have been cold.
From the sale of lambs s., 900 was realized.
and 81 800 to $1,000 from hogs, poultry, &c
Potatoes bringing in 81 900 have been sold
the past year. Clover has been the favorite
grass crop this year. l25 tons of hay having
been gathered, and an immense amount of
grain. The most remarkable figures are
shown in the case of the Jersey bull calf Lord
Darlington. which Mr.. Kelsey purchased in
New York l3 mohths ago, when he was onl,
two days old, for $3.50. From this calf ser
vice has been obtained estimated at $4,000,
and now he has just been sold TO Mr. W. A.
Herrick, of Worcester, Mass, for the sum of
81, 800. Lord Darlington was shipped in a
huge cage to his new home by fast express.
He is very handsome animal, and has a
famous career before him. 1t is said that Mr..
Kelsey already regrets parting with him, con-
sidering him the finest animal he had on the
place. Thus it will be seen that with some
money and some brains the young farmer can
do better in old Sussex than by emigrat-
ing to the West. Here there is q ready mar
ket near at hand for all farm products, and
careful attention to the soil will make it yield
profitable crops more surely and speedily than
the unbroken lands in the far West, with all
the uncertainties of seasons and markets 10
be taken into account.