The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1889-08-08
Allow COUNTRY GRASS FARM.
Suggestive Example to the FARM
era in the Mountain Country.

Editor Citizen:-You will remember
that several weeks ago, gave an ac
count of visit to the beautiful Island
Home farm of Mr.. Perez Dickinson, near
Knoxville. Since that time. | had the
pleasure of visiting, in company with the
proprietor, the elegant Fair View farm ol
Capt. B. p. Williamson, situated one and
a-half miles from the city of Raleigh.
There are 300 acres in this farm, one half
of which is timber land. Captain Will
hanson has displayed much pluck and
good Judgment in the handling Of this
farm, which was (Ihc cultivated part, J
exhausted and much of it worn into
gulies when he took hold oft. He was
told when he purchased this property,
that rcd clover could not be grownin the
neighburhOod of Raleigh. He replied,
that he would have Il clover patch, il he
had to haul his dirt from hercOunty
With this resolution, he went to work,
turning up the old quilted fields and ap-
plving about ten wagon loads of stable
manure to the acre. Aiter this applica-
ton and a thorough pulvcrization he
seeded it down to clover, and secured Il
good "catch." Instead Of using the com
mon top dressing ofplastcr, he uses about
two hundred pounds Of an acid phos-
phate, analyzing about - per cent. Of
available phosphoric acid per acre, ap-
piled in February or March. He was
harvesting and housing his second crop
when was there, of fifty acres which
was Welding him at least four tons per
acre on an average. Captain w. has also
demonstrated that freshly cleared land
in the ncighborhood of Raleigh, if thor
oughly prepared, will readily take tu
clover without the aid of manure for the
''catch." With such Il stand and yield oI
clover he has all the elements of lcrtiliza-
ton present necessary to bring his lands
to the most desirable state of productivc-
ness. This farm is devoted exclusively to
the breeding and rearing of fine stock
and fruits. The Captain has ten or il
dozen choice brood mares, costing him
from $500 to ST. 800 a piece. He also has
Il capital Morgan stallion from WHICH he
is breeding. Besides this, he is breeding
some of his broodS to other famous
horses. He has also a young Morgan,
a two year old, that promises to make a
horse of extra size and parts. Here,
saw the finest lot of (this spring'sl colts
it has ever been my lot to see. One Ica.
turc about Captain WilliamSons stock
especially impressed me. While they are
elegant, Of good style, and the best u
movers, they have good size and give
guarantee of great power. did not SC,
his two and three year old stock, as hl
had them on Il pasture at his river farm
of 700 acres, seven miles from the city
| I tsltt
Williamson of Il breeding farm, a brilliant
success. Indeed, the latitude and climatic
conditions of North Carolina are as wei
adapted to the breeding and rearing o
fine horses as it is famous for the pro
duction of noble men.
Capt. VS. venture i'll fruit culture /:
scarcely second to his triumph in gras.
and fine stock. He has 300 peach tree.
of bearing age. There is, however, some
uncertainty in this crop which makes i
less valuable than some others. lli
pear orchard consists OF GOO trees, en-
bracing fifty varieties. thought there
were too many varieties i'll this orcharC
for profit. He explained by saying tina
the introduction of SO many varictic
was designed as Il test OF the most rc
| llilI)lC anu l'l Ilttl l'''l
of North Carolina. His orchard of Wilt
Goose plums consists of 700 bearing
trees. lie regards this as the most prof
liable orchard on his farm, as his plum
average him net i'll the Northern marke
from SO to 81 a bushel, according to tn
quality of the fruit. Capt. Williamson
has eighteen acres in grapes. Four ant
Il half acres have borne for the last TIVE
wears. Most of this fruit has been solC
in the Northern market, and the Captain
informed me that the first year hisgrapc
netted him 500 per acre, and the secont
year 500 per acre. The remainder q
his vineyard is fairl v truitcd this season
for the first time. This kind of prof
beats cotton or tobacco, and besides thl
it does not transfer North Carolin
realty through the agency of the flood
to the bosom of the old ocean.
My visit to this farm OF Capt. William
son impressed me atrcsh with the capa
bilitics of North Carolina. The luNr
riancc of the grasses. and, as a result, tn
constantly increasing aCCumulatiOnS {
manurial clements, demonstrate that
with proper management and enterprise
North Carolinians may be independent [
the stock aud hay growing West an
North. Indeed, clover, and Timothy an
Orchard grass may become as potent
declaration of independence as that signc
by the heroes of 1776 ST. far us North ca
Dina dependence upon the West an
North is concerned. All honor to I'll
pluck and good sense of Capt. William
son. The good his example is capable {
accomplishing for the State is wort
more to the future development an
growth of the State than all the polite;
prcIcrment and hunors within her powt
to give. I. ID. SMITH.
Franklin, N. G., August ..
-,v,Sv1> ~ ,rEIUr AID