The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1890-04-30
A MODEL FARM.
How Bob Washburn, OF OcOnee
Manages.

| Oconec county.
Mr. Washburn, to use a common
phrase, was born with "siIyel
spoon in his mouth" and raised
within the confines of brick anG
morter. His father, Mr.. Henry
Washburn, was enc of the largest
and best cotton merchants in Sa-
vannah, but he lost all his wealtl
ia an Improbable speculation
Ills son, of course, had not the
means to follow the business of his
sire, and about five years age
bought 1S5 ceres OF thin land few
miles below Watkinsyille, and de,
cided to adopt this honored call.
ing.
When Bob Washburn made his
Investment, all the neighbors pre-.
dicted that he would soon be star,
we'd out. His farm was all upland
and it took from four to seven
acres to make a bale of cotton. He
bought his land on credit, as also
the stock to run 1t.
|
But instead of commencing life
at the top, he began at the bottom.
lie ran only two plows and
worked three hands, himself maxi
ing one. His father resides with
him and the old gentleman keeps
the books and accounts, while Boil
engineers the farm. The same
system and business management
was bought to Lear on the farm
as was practical when the senior
Washburn handled his thousands
Of bales Of cotton annually. A rec,
ord is kept Of the mode of cultiva.
ton, crops process and itenized ex
pense of each field or patch. Every
shower is reported. as also the
droughts, and the condition of the
crops at every stage. If an ex.
pertinent is made with any particu-
lar seed, manure or process of cui.
tivation, an exact account is ken
ofcost and profit. Nv. Washburr
can tell you at glance the datC
that he employed a certain he nd
the number Of hours he worked
and when the negro left his EN-
ployment. In fact no merchant il
Athens keeps a more accurate Sc
OF books about bis business than d.
the Messrs. Washburn on theil
little farm.
Such management, of course, be,
gan to tell from the first year. Hi,
crops increased and his fields grew
richer. But instead o! branching
out on larger scales and investing
in more land, Mr. Washburn con-
fined himself to his same little farm
and placed a certain Tart of Iii,
profits to enriching the fields. He
paid the last dollar he owed, built
a nice residence and modern barn,
besides making other improvements
to add to his comfort and conven>
fence.
Last year he had made just foul
crops, and let us see what lie has
accomplished on land that was too
poor when he bought it "to sprout
peas" With two mules, two hired
hands and his own labor, in 1889
Mr.. Washhurn made 46 bales of
cotton, every one weighing over
800 pounds, he gathered 700 bushels
of corn, 81 bushels of wheat. har,
vested an immense crop of oats, be.
sides raising large quantities. OF
forage corn, German millet, and in
Fact everything grown in this Sec
ton. lie also killed meat enough
10 supply himself and hands--hogs
OF his own raising. When all the
crops were harvested and the sur
plus produce sold, it was found
that besides his own support, Mr..
Washburn had cleared 81, 053 dur.
ing the year with only two pIows.
Now is not this a wonderful
showing for our section? Can
any tanner in the West beat OF
even equal ii?
Bob Washburn does not idle his
time away loafng around towns,
If he has business In Watkinsville
he comes in trot, discharges II
end then returns to his work.
This year be has selected two
acres to plant in cotton and will ex
pertinent on the intensive system
lie will then discover whether
: there is profit in this plan, III
will keep an exact record of tn
, number of hours work required b,
both hands and plows to plant