The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1891-1893, 1892-05-07

Some Facts Which show What Can
he Done in Wake


as the "200.acre field" mile north
west of the city. 1t was long.
slightly sioping field. parallel with the
r. & =. railway. Some scrubby pines
and some persimmon trees formed the
larger growth. There were to be
found the earliest dewberries, whose
vines ran riot. There were also more
snakes than anywhere else in this sec
ton. Blackberries and snakes were
the staple crops. Now the unkempt
field is succession of fine farms and
part Of it, rich in its grateful verdure,
covered deep with clover and blue
grass, with welllaid out orchards of
peaches, wild goose plums, &c, and
with choice grape vines marshaled in
orderly lines, IS the noted stock
farm of Capt. B. Z. Williamson.
1t is an object lesson. pure and simple.
1t is theory and practice. 1t shows
what can be done on what are known
as cold fields" in North Carolina. In
1888 Capt. Williamson bought this
place and put it down in clover and
grass. There are 30S acres and l60
OF these are as green as any field in the
famed Kentucky blue grass region. In
1885, desiring to experiment, four
acres were taken in hand and $40 an
acre expended in fertilizing the clover.
From one acre, measured by Col.
Shaffer, nearly $4,000 pounds of cured
clover was taken, worth Sl20. Then
the premium of $50 at the State fair,
for the largest yield of clover, was OBJ
tanned and in addition the ground was
seeded for four years. SO the crop on
one acre paid for the expense on four
acres. Thus much by way of an in
PRODUCTION.
As one crosses the L. 4 e.. railway
track, on the road to "Fairview," for
that is the pretty and appropriate name
for Capt. Williamson's farm, there
comes before the eye as fair prospect
as the State affords. At the stream
which the road crosses. county convicts
are at work blasting granite for the
abutments of a new bridge. At the
farms boundary is race track, a
quarter of mile, on which the horses
are exercised and taught. Further
along there is kindergarten" where
even the colts learn their PAGES. Along
the road passing by the farm are
= the old and the new in con-
S trast; on the right hand cotton, Just
! coming up; on the left hand the roll.
f ing ground, knee deep in blue grass
e and white clover, with vines ant
t orchards in the middle distance and
a a background of stately forest growth
: The farm houses are as neat as paint
E and whitewash can make them, and in
). all directions, browsing on the grass
n are mares and colts. These are in the
O great field; they are in the paddocks
! which are smallers field OF from four Il
e six acres each. Capt. Williamson
It tells the visiting reporter that thes
O horses feed all the time on this clover
y yet it is luxuriant. At night they ar
e given little hay. They have had n'
d grain all the winter. In six acr
II paddock are seven splendid mares
,r The six acres furnish them, month il
te and month out, all the food they re
ID uuire, save the little lunch Of hay a
o night.
De In the paddocks are mares and colt:
IN and beauties they are. They sho
:y their breeding in every line of bod
t and limb. Here is the mare Lambel
tina and beside her her colt Main;
Mare and foal were bought in Main
by Capt. Williamson this spring an
d brought here, 100 miles. Lambe
'e- tina was sired by the great DAM
w. Lambert, and is as rare an animal ;
y any in the State. In fact the Lar
It, bert STRAIN is rare in all the Sout
IN Under the hickory and white oak tre
'e' stand some Of the colts, while othe
,,r' lie in the grass, which half ,,concea
H. them. There are now 70 hor
oy and colts on the place. In one paGdo
,o' ~ are the fllies lately brought in Ne
ne England. These are heavily coat
'o- with hair, very necessary thing
hS that climate where there are S
a'e months of winter and three months
lor cold weather. Here they are rapid
hs shedding and in a month will be qui
IT, different in color and appearanC
re- re Some of the youngsters are taken
tiy the "kindergarten" and given tur
uc- Star Belle, two years old, is one
osS these, and is a most promising fill
VT with evidences of speediness. NJ
IS Gillig, ten months old, is anotf
nes which has record ahead. VIII
w. nine months old she made quarter
lite mile in AZ seconds on the ice. Ca
hSn Williamson saw her do this.
uei AS the number of animals increa
'or- the paddocks are added TO.
W. woods are cleared, so as to leave no
tne ..' ing but fine oaks and hickory trees.
Alil' clear stream runs through the paddoc
ing to which there are entrances from
onh stable yards. The stables are careft
III built. They cost money just as eve
anu thing about this splendid farm has c