Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-07-08
THE TUCKAHOES.
THE MEETING or Tag CLUB AT TINS
LEYs FARM.
A Pleasant Day-Ths Place Inspsctsd-Rs-
port on General Wickham's
Farm.

Farmers Club was held with Mr.. James
/ q. Tinsley, whose farm is situated on
pretty sloping hill within view Of the IA
nous Chickahominy river. The land
near the house is undulsting and well set
in grass. His farm consists Of 450 acres
of land-about seventy-fve woodland,
the rest under cultivation.
The grass crop is very good one. He
raises sweet corn, tomatoes, beans, green
peas, which are put up at his cannery on
his place.
The cannery is we'll supplied with all
the latest improvements IN the way of
machinery and great care. is taken to
have everything as clearly as possible.
His FertiliziDg Nil" was also in
spected and, the quantity OF bones
ground and put up would surprise any
one.
An admirable report on the farm of
General Williams Q. Wickham was read,
as follows:
Mr. President and Gentlemen Of the
9ackahoe Farmers Ctub:
Your committee appointed at the last
meeting OF the club to report upon the
/ farm of our host begs to submit the fol-
/ lowing as the best response be is able to
make to your requisition IN the limited
time after receipt OF the necessary data.
The last meeting of the club was held
MAY "a, 1888. at Hickory Hill, the home
of General Williams Z. Wickham, SIT
uated in the county OF Hanover, on the
| Chesapeake and Ohio railroad, twenty
one miles from Richmond by rail and
nineteen by county road. and three
miles from Hanover Courthouse.
The farm comprises 1850 acres, l,69O
of which are in cultivation. Seven hum
dred and twenty-five acres are rich Pa
munkev bottoms the rest is hill land,
for the most part light and sandy, and
abundantly wooded. About go acres
OF the arabic land are subject to inunda
ton in ordinary freshets and not included
/ IN the above. On arrival OF the train
from Richmond, generously provided
bv General WIckham at his own expense,
the club were met and amply provided
with carriages and other vehicles for the
insrection of this magnificent estate,
which was begun about 10 o'clock under
the guidance Of the General and his son,
Captain w. +. Wickham, who has entire
charge of all the operations OF the farm,
and was continued until about 2 o'clock,
when we were summoned TO the mansion
for dinner.
During this delightful tour We were
shown 27j acres of growing wheat OF the
Rice, Fultz, Lancaster, Findley, and
Fulcaster varieties, 300 ceres OF corn,
clean of grass, and in thrifty condition,
/ 10 acres of clover, So acres of timothy,
IL acres of potatoes, and 200 acres ofpeas
for fall following.
Extending our tour to the ample pas
ture lands we found grazing there $50
sheep OF the ordinary breed, from which
had been dropped 164 lambs, l59 OF
which had been sold and eaten, and %
Southdowns, with product OF "a lambs,
and a herd of beautiful Holstein
heifers recently imported also, some
/ fine Shorthorns and Jerseys. a
| full list of the animals on the farm is
as follows u work-mules and horses
| 9 carriage aud riding horses; 10 colts
/ 10 work -oxen; 10 sheep; 80 killing
hogs; AZ cows in milk C Holstein, IL
grade Jerseys, and y grade Short
/ horns); q grade Shorthorn COWS and
heifers to calve by September; "a tho
rough and grade Holstens to calve IN
/ fall and winter; Shorthorns TO be
served this summer 16 three-year-old
| bullocks; 10 two-year-old bullocks; 80
one-year-old bullocks; IA One-yeGr-old
heifers "A calves; and 2 bulls, Il Hol-
stein and one ShorthOrn)
The forty-two COWS in milk give an
average OF two and one half gallons each
| daily. OF this product eighty gallons
are sold and delivered in Richmond at
twelve cents per gallon IN summer ana
sixteen cents in winter, twenty gallons
are fed TO the calves and the remainder
consumed by the family. The dairy is
situated near the mansion in en- enclosed
field of forty acres on breezy elevation.
! The buildings consist OF stable for fifty
cows, we'll arranged for economy and
convenience in feeding and health and
cleanliness of the animals bull stable,
! foreman's house, silo of $50 tons cspsci-
ty, built under ground of brick laid IN
cement and plastered with cement
houses for hands, and spring house where
the milk is measured, cooled, and pre-
pared for market. In addition to the
above there are in course OF erection a
! stable with brick basement for fifty head,
barn for storing bran, hay. oats, &C.,
aud silo of 700 tons capacity in antlci-
patton of large increase OF the milk
/ herd this fall. About sixty acres ada
cent to the dairy lot are devoted to soil
/ ing and ensiage crops. These are plant
/ ed 30 as to secure continuous succession
of green food and are available in the
following order: Rye, German clover,
| red clover, oats, corn, millet, peas.
On well-selected hillside a vineyard
OF fifteen acres was planted in the spring
/ of 1887 with a view to the production of
wine and fruit for the table. OF the red
and white VINE varieties there are four
of each, and eight varieties for the table.
| The vines looked healthy and flourish
ing, and gave evidence OF careful and Iu-
dicious handling.
An additional step in the direction Of
enterprise and progress in cOntempla-
ton and soon to be taken is the estab-
lishment, upon part Of the farm not
visited, of hennery of l 600 hens, with
all the modern appliances for the success
ful prosecution OF this new industry,
under the superintendent OF an ex-
perienced manager.
The buildings devoted to the use OF
the family consist Of spacious brick
mansion Of eight rooms, with ample hall
entrance and front portico, rebuilt by
the present owner in 1875 twas originally
built in 1929, hanked on either side by
two framed cottages library of four
rooms, greenhouse, and stable for
family and pleasure horses. all situated
on handsome elevation, surrounded by
well-kept aad shaded lawn of five acres.
To the dwelling is attached garden Of
about four acres filled with vegetables
and fruits in great variety, and embel-
lished with evergreens and flowers after
the old English fashion.
The farm buildings arc a managers
house. with detached kitchen; barn,
with capacity of 1000 bushels Of wheat /;
two corn houses, with capacity of 500
barrels each; two stables, with stalls for