The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-05-22

Over 5000 Acres in Cultivation Under One
Management.
n the Quitman, Ga, Free Press.

From the Quitman Ca, Free Press.
1t was our pleasure few days since to visit
the magnificent plantation of Major B. w.
Bellamy which lies in Jefferson county, Fla,
about is miles south of Quitman. Almost every
one in this section knows about the "Bellamy''
place and has some idea OF its magnitude, but
a correct idea OF its yastness and the large scale
upon which farming is here carried on can only
be formed by personal inspection of the
place.
THOUSANDS OF ACRES.
Major Bellamy owns something over 5000
acres of land which lies in one body. OF this
between five and six thousand acres are in cul-
tiyation about half and half in cotton and corn.
To cultivate this immense area ii is necessary
to run $50 ploWs. Some of these are run by
wages hands, some by contract and some by
renters but it is all under the personal superYi-
sion of Major Bellamy himself.
There is not day that passes that he does
not visit the greater part OF the plantation
himself. To do this it takes an immense amount
of riding and gives the horses which the major
keeps for this purpose all they want to do.
EIGHT MILES ACROSS.
An idea of the size of the place will be OBJ
tanned from tho following: While we were
riding over the place the Major stopped at q
point where two plantation roads meet and re-
marked that it was four miles from that point
to the edge 81 the place, go whichever direc-
ton you might choose. We took his word for
it and did not step the distance.
HILLS AND VALLEYS.
If man from middle Georgia was dropped
down in the middle of this plantation he might
feel little strange and would probably get lost
before he got out of it, but the hills and valleys
would look so natural that he would still think
he was in his own section of the state. These
lands have a stiff clay subsoil and are wonder
fully fertile too. Without fertilization and
without the careful cultivation which smaller
farms receive they produce from third to a
bai Of nd In bu 81 "a = of
corn to the acre. The crops were suffering some
for rain at the time of our visit, it being just
at the close Of the recent prolonged dry spell,
but nevertheless they were looking remarkably
well. There was an almost perfect stand of
cotton and corn, and they were both in excel
lent condition. The absence of rain had made
it hard matter for grass to grow and they
were as clean as could be.
TERRACES AND HILLSIDE bitches.
One~of the most remarkable features of this
immense plantation, big as it is, is the almost
perfect system of terracing and hillside bitches.
Whenever one or the other is necessary it is TO
be found there and is always properly looked
after and kept up. This is no small matter
and speaks volumes for the executive ability Of
the owner of this wonderful place.
THE NEGROES.
There are, all told, men, women and chill
dren about 800 negroes on this place, between
four and five hundred of whom are able bod
led men. The major knows them all by name
and they all like him and will do anything for
him. He never meets one but what he has a
pleasant word for him and always leaves him
III q good humor. OF course to manage so much
labor would be more than one man could do
and to help him the major has three agents as
they are now known, but who ill ante-bellum
days would be called oveISeers. Each of these
has different parts of the plantation to look
after while the major himself exercises gen.
eral supervision over the whole thing. In adj
dltion to these is man who stays at the house
and attends to the commissary, where the ne
groes come for their supplies of various kinds
and who keeps the books, a regular set of books
being necessary to keep everything straight.
FINE STOCK.
Major Bellamy takes a special pride in his
stock and, as the dealers who have ever sold
him well know, there is no use in trying to sell
| him an ordinary mule. He always buys the
| best and keeps them at their best. Every sea.
son he sells off the old and worn out mules and
replaces them with fine young ones. Amy one
! who has stood on the streets of Quitman anC
seen half dozen or more of Major Ballamy'
| mule wagons come into town laden with cot
ton or corn knows the kind of stock he keeps
THE OLD HOMESTEAD.
A description of this grand place would not
| be complete without few words about the
majors residence. 1t is an old fashioned south
| ern residence, built in that generous style
! which characterized the wealthy planters O.
! antc-bellum day. Wide piaZzas, unusually
| large and airy rooms with high ceilings are it,
main features. To show how firmly and soidly
it is constructed it will only be necessary Il
state that it was built over 50years ago and al
the repairs it has needed since then was 10 b,
| recoye cred once.
One OF an imaginative mind could stand il
the front piazza of this house. gaze out alonl
the carriage drive in front, view the immens,
stretch of fertile acres, the rising hills and un
dulating valleys and picture TO himself wha
| this country was before the war and what veri
table kings the wealthy planters were IN thu
day of "auld lang syne."