Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-12-19

cAfr. 5hAek1's HoLsTkiS EARN.

Der 81 tl1's western excursion party
that visited our city recentlv, in ILL.,
speech nc the Court House, describing
the visit OF himself and friends 70
C@pt. Frank Gracey's Hclstein farm,
said he Adid not expect to find better
land here than they had il Kansas, but
better climate. If Capt. Gracey's place
was rs representative poorest farm
10 Montgomery county three years
ago-tlen he was satisfied he could
make living on our poor lands.p
The FACTS were not at all misrepre-
sented 10 Mr. Henderson. The farm
alluded to is known as the old Stacker
place, on Cumberland river, one mile
above town; il contains 100 acres hill
land Capt Gmcev bought it three
years ago for $1,000 cash. This was
more in consideration for the build
ings and garden lot than for the field.
Seventy-five acres OF this farm was
absolutely nothing but gullies and
ridges; red hill sides that would not
produce iox,tail grass Now tho entire
place, except enc acre, has been smooth
ed over, and is beautifully set an
meadow grasses, and could not be
bought for $10O00---oyer three hun
bred per cent of its cost-and yet the
whole improvement has not cost more
than half the original price paid for
the place. 1t is we'll worth visit from
every farmer in the county 10 observe
tho practical experimentation this is
really an experimental farm which
Capt. Gracey is operating for his own
pleasure, and whatever good may re-
suit to the agricultural interest gener-
ally-and there is no estimating the
good that will result If our farmers
will only take some interest in ques-
tons that vitality concern the farmer
= that of retaining washed lands, and
the proper management to preserve
and increase fertility at the least ex-
pense The want of such knowledge
accounts for so many gully-washed
and exhausted fields in the country
and here we have the practical expert
nent, by practical man, who studies
the character of the soil, its wants, and
applies business rules and common
sense in his methods OF construction.
OF course, the developments so rapidly
made, cost labor, money and thought,
and men who have no capital to risk,
can't afford to make these experiments;
but here the poor man, as well as the
rich, may see and know for himself,
without experimenting, that profitable
results can be attained by certain
methods in proper seasons.
About so acres of this gully washed
land was taken in hand in August;
four men and two teams were en-
ployed two months in smoothing over
the surface, manuring and seeding
and most of the gullies were deep
enough to hide horse The process
WAS simply plowlng up and down the
gullies, with the moleboard throwing
the dirt in, making the ofI-mule walk
in the gully. Very deep gullies should
first he broken down on the edge with
a hoe, making a track for the off horse
to walk in the first round. After the
gullies are plowed down, they should
be cross plowed, dragged and smooth
ed over.
Capt. Gracey has one advantage over
most farmers, and that is plenty of
stable manure, which he uses for top
dressing. after the land is prepared for
the seed, which is applied by ma
chine, distributing the manure evenly
over every foot OF ground, and is not
plowed in, by which immediate bene-
fit is derived, MS shown by the young
/ timothy seeded in September, which