The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-04-17
FARMS OF CARROLL.
Written for the Democratic Advocate.
BEAVER CREEK.
The Residence of Geo. w. Armacost

Hooker S Meadows, Flag Meadows, stevens
Retreat, Blindfold, and Barbados, pur-
chased in four different parcels. Lot No.
4 was formerly hotel lot and hotel owned
by the Pedicord family. VIM. G. White
formerly ran stage coach from this hotel
to Baltimore. 1t was pulled down by Mr..
Armacost seven years ago. There is also
another very old residence that has become
worn and dilapidated by the lapse of many
years. 1t is situated on the highest point
on the farm, the place where the proprietor
spent the greatest part of his boyhood, as
well as the first three years of his married
life 1t was at this residence that his
father first resided and worked at his trade
of blacksmith, and also superintendent the
farm, which at that time comprised 73
acres. He had also another tract of 20
acres, beyond Daniel Bush's farm, which
he afterwards sold to Alexander Shipley.
Lot No. l was conveyed by VIM. Jami-
son, containing % acres, 2 roods and II
perches.
Lot No. ?, by Thomas Murray, contain
ing 4S acres.
Lot No. 3, by Abraham Leister, con-
tanning acres, 2 roods and "a perches.
Lot No. 4, by Rein Pedicord, contain
ing I acres, 2 roods and "a perches.
Lot No. 5, by T. C. Stocksdale, contain
ing acres, 3 roods and 3 perches, making
in all IA acres, 3 roods and 13 perches,
134 acres being in cultivation, the balance
in timber There is also a chestnut wood
lot of 81 acres, several miles from the farm.
The farm is divided into eleven fields,
which includes two acres in orchard and
one and half acres in young trees.
The dwelling is of brick, 36 by 40 feet,
two and half stories high, with hall. 1t
was erected in 1866. In 1878 frame
addition was built two and a half stories
high, making in all ten rooms. There is a
front porch and two back porches to the
dwelling. A pump of water in the yard,
and cistern at the kitchen door, supplies
the premises abundantly Locust and
evergreen trees adorn the yard and afford
good shade.
The barn was built in 1854. 1t is 60
feet long with shed at each end, making
the whole length of the building 81 feet,
with width of 40 feet, affording stable
room for thirty-two head Of stock. There
is a good pump in the yard for watering
stock of all kinds The outbuildings con-
sist of two carriagehouses, two lighthouses,
cowhouse, fertilizer and feedhouse, chicken
and hoghouse, meathouse, icehouse, dairy,
woodhouse and blacksmith shop.
The chief crops grown upon BEAVER
CREEK farm are wheat, corn, rye, potatoes,
clover and timothy hay. The rotation is
as follows: A field that has been in sod for
three years is prepared for corn by manuring;
then plowed when the ground is in proper
condition; then cultivated thoroughly, and
300 pounds of phosphate sowed with grain
drill, from the 18th to the 18th of May.
Corn drilled with keystone planter, II
or Is inches apart in the row, and the rows
81 feet apart; in the fall sow to wheat or
rye, the following season stubble to wheat
again, and sow to grass Sod or cornstalk
ground, ON northern exposure, for pota-
toes. Very often one field of clover is
turned under in May or June for wheat
the following fall.
The yield of wheat, per acre, has varied
very much. Mr.. Armacost's father sowed
Lancaster red wheat, brought directly from
Lancaster county, Pa, which yielded him
as much as % bushels per acre, without
the use of phosphate. By using plaster
on clover in May, then turning it under in
June, Mr.. Armacost has raised from II to
SO bushels per acre. The yield of corn
has been from II to 16 barrels per acre.
The yield of corn and wheat is considerably
larger in the neighborhood than it was a
few years back The fertilizer used on
corn consists of South Carolina bone, Ger
man potash and plaster. For wheat, the
same, with $50 TO 200 pounds per acre Of
rawbone on land seeded to grass Lime is
a very important item with Mr.. Armacost
in keeping up the fertility of his soil. He
uses from three hundred bushels to six
hundred bushels every year, generally APP
plying it to sod, letting it remain one or
two years before turning under. He uses
both oystershell lime and stone lime. In
former years Mr.. Armacost made his hay
crop a specially. Now his speciality is the
dairy business.
The stock upon the farm comprises five
head of horses, with a colt or two, and from
Is to &c head of horned cattle The horses
are of Virginia stock. The cows are gen.
orally grades, with the exception of several
Attorneys and Durhams, and bull of Al
derney and Ayrshire cross. The hogs are
White Chesters, always aiming to keep a
stock on hand for each years supply. The
poultry is composed mostly Of Plymouth
Rocks, which are valued for their great size
and hardihood, as well as their egg pro-
ducing qualities.
Mr.. Armacost has been engaged in the
dairy business for about ten years, having
engaged in it in the fall of 1876. He
ships his milk, at present, to Lawrence
Klausman, Baltimore, about A gallons
daily. The dairy business entails great
deal of labor and care upon the farmer,
but, if jndiciously managed and no losses
are sustained through the faithlessness of
agents or consignees, it is believed that it
pays better than the raising of grain or
other crops 1t is a business, however,
that requires constant care and unfailing
attention to conduct it properly and sue
cessfully, and the daily supply to his city
consiguee must never fail, if he would
maintain a reputation for promptitude and
reliability. The quality as well as the
quantity Of the milk must also be kept up,
and to do this often requires extra feed and
extra care. Good rich milk will always
command ready sale and eager purchasers,
while poor, thin article, is only tolerated
until the purchaser can do better. Every
dairyman has to encounter the loss and
annoyance of milk returned as asour" If
sour milk only were returned, or if that