The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-03-20
FARMS OF CARROLL.
Written for the Democratic Advocate.
DORSEY'S RANGE.

The Residence of Elijah scrivnor.
DoRsEY's RANGE is one of the valuable
estates of Carroll county. 1t is located in
Freedom district, near the village of Elders
burg, adjoining the lands of Mr.. John
Deyries and Mr.. Marshall Selby. 1t was
bought of Nicholas D. Norris, nephew and
executor of Major Nicholas B. Dorsey, in
1858, by Joshua and Elijah Scrivnor,
brothers, who occupied it jointly for twenty
six wears, or until 1884, when, from failing
health and strength, Mr.. Joshua Scrivnor
removed from the farm to Westminster
to live. leaving his brother, Elijah Scrivnor,
sole occupant of the farm that had so long
been shared and cultivated by the two
brothers in common. This farm contains
266 acres. for which the brothers paid
s17.O0 per acre. Another farm, of 103
acres, adjoining it, was bought of Mr..
Johnzey Selby, for $4,000 per acre, making
the whole number of acres of land in the
two places 1863. This land was all in low
state of cultivation and in nonproductive
condition, having been neglected for a num-
Der of years. There was an old log dwell
ing upon it, and a dilapidated barn, with
some other small outbuildings, all of which
were torn down except the old barn, which
was left standing and utilized as sheep
house. A new frame dwelling house was
erected in 1860 1t is three stories high
with attic, 10 by As feet, contains twelve
rooms, and cost $4,000. The grounds
around the dwelling are ample, and taste
fully decorated by fine shade trees and
shrubbery There seems to be aprevailing
desire among all our farmers, now, to dec
crate and beautify the homestead as far as
possible. These accessories to the farm not
only add to the comforts and enjoyments of
the family, but also add to the value of the
farm, for any place so improved and beau
titled will always bring more in the market
than one destitute of such improvements.
A more cultivated taste now requires that
every farm should have them.
The buildings are all well located, neat
and comfortable. The new barn is Sc feet
long by SO feet wide, with all the modern
improvements and convenienees. There is
also good corn house, carriage house,
a granary, spring house and dairy, all in
excellent order.
The land on this farm has been well
lined, and is now in highly productive
condition. 1t was the constant aim of the
proprietors to improve the farm in every
way possible, in the quality of the soil, the
comfortableness of the buildings, and the
excellence OF the enclosures. When they
first bought the place they put up seventeen
hundred panels of substantial chestnut post
and rail fence, and have from time to time
renewed it since, as occasion or decay re-
quired. A careful farmer will always keep
an eve to the tidiness of his enclosures
Only the careless and slovenly will permit
his fence to be thrown down here, and a
gate off the hinges there, until the whole
farm presents an air Of neglect and shift
lessness. Another evidence of careful and
intelligent oversight upon the farm is to
keep not only the dwelling and the more
important buildings well painted, but all the
outbuildings also. There is no economy ii
sparing paint upon woodwork, and this re-
mark applies as well to all agricultural i'm
plements as to buildings. Paint the wagons
plows, harrows, threshers, and every wooder
implement in use, and keep them from ex-
posure to the weather Iron work, also
should be coated or painted to preserve il
from the rust.
Dorsey's Range is well set in clover and
timothy. Where there is an abundance Of
good hay there is more liberal feeding Of
stock and larger supply of barnyar(
manure. The farmer who does not rely
more upon barnyard manure and the turn
ing in of green crops and grass than upor
the purchase of commercial fertilizers, will
find his bank account lessening and his soil
growing thin We don't mean to say that
he should not use fertilizers at all, but
he should make his own resources fol
manure his mainstay. He must feed the
soil, and feed it literally, if he would sue.
ceed The more he feeds it the greater
his success will be. These are mere ele
mentary principles or lessons in the science
of agriculture, but some men have not even
learned these.
There is a large orchard of apple and
peach trees, planted together, embracing
about fifteen acres. Also an abundance OF
other fruit, such as pears, cherries, ounces,
and the smaller garden fruits. A vast
change has been wrought in our farmers, in
the greater attention which they now pay
to fruit culture. And yet there is much
need of improvement in this respect, fol
the general knowledge of horticulture is
rather limited. Some, however, are well
informed and skilled horticulturists, as the
progress of these sketches will fully show
The first crops produced on Dorsey
Range. under the tillage of the present
proprietors. were about five barrels of corn
per acre, and about fifteen bushels of wheat
Now the crops will average ten barrels Of
corn and thirty bushels Of wheat per acre
The proprietors not only gave their con
slant attention to the improvement of thu
soil. the buildings, the Enclosures, and al
the appointments of the farm, but they
gave special attention to the improvement
of their stock also. As an evidence of thei
success, in this respect, it may be mention
ed, that, from one brood mare they sold fou
colts, the lowest price realized being $3.50
and the highest $3.50. These colts wer'
half Percberons, Percheron sire, and
Whitehall dam They were large and vel
developed, and sold readily at these prices
It is favorable sign Of improvement ant
advancement in Carroll county husbandry
that her farmers are giving more attention
to stock raising, and to the introduction o
improved breeds. While great deal o
attention is being paid to this subject, ant
to all other improvements upon the farm
little is known of it to the public, since th'
lapse of the Agricultural Society and tn
abandonment Of our county fairs. Th
desire is often expressed by farmers for
9 new organization Of this sort. and it i
more than probable that another viii b
formed at no distant day. The number 0
intelligent and progressive farmers in Car
roll Il nm the increase and the ADVANTAGE