Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1893-12-01

COHtHtOutOuS uNu HtOuofh o"to"ee~1'tyo-
Picturesque scenery-A happy home
stead-Am aged couple an the sun
doon Of life.
As we awoke in the morning red round
Autumn sun was lifting itself over the dis
tant ranges of mountains and pouring its rays
over the earth with mild glory. The soft
misty air was blending every object with
beauty. The wind was slightly swaying
the branches Of the huge oaks and NAPLES
which stood along the several roads and
paths. Here stood the black, shining holly,
there played the pendant beech, and there
the light aspen threw Its slender column Into
the sky and trembled in the breeze, and
there the ash, the chestnut, the butternut and
walnut mingled with the tall and stately
pine From their branches came the glad
chorus OF the woodland songsters, whilst
troops OF blackbirds were piping from the
thick bushes which stood along portions OF
the near meadow. Autumn was falling into
the "sere and yellow leaf"-the leaves them
selves were falling and strewing the graveled
walk, which led TO the house, with crimson
and gold. All nature was redolent with
deep and tender meaning.
AS we entered the sitting room blaze OF
cheerful light greeted us. A large fire was
blazing in the chimney, which only added
to the comfortable appearance. A large
black dog lay stretched out at full length be.
fore the fire. On the tall mantlepiece was
an oldfashioned clock whose pendulum had
been swinging and hands been going round
for many years. In low and iavorite chair,
10 its accustomed corner, sat our venerable
hirpoalI with hiS Dttlp
grandchildren German and Grover. To COM
plete this quiet home picture we can only
add, that our host and hostess performed
the honors of their respective heads at the
breakfast table with an ease and dignity
which those of less matured age might have
envied. At this point we would remark
that this venerable couple celebrated their
golden wedding in the Spring Of "a, and
their children, grandchildren and numerous
relatives aud friends are now anticipating
with no little interest the celebration OF
their diamond wedding in the approaching
Spring.
The large, fertile and picturesque farm OF
Mr.. Browning originally embraced 1000
acres, running from the summit of Roman
Nose mountain, covering an extensive
meadow land, thence up, over and beyond
spur of Hoop Pole ridge. Within few
years he has divided between two of his
sons five hundred acres, which still leaves
him in the possession of eleven hundred
acres. This large body of land was not
purchased at one time, but was added to as
his means increased. The price ranging
from seven to twelve dollars per acre. He
has been the architect OF his own fortune,
having started life, as he informed US, "with
not ten dollars above ground and Tor some
years after bis marriage lived in house not
as good as the poorest tenement on his farm
His father never gave or left him cent, al.
ways contending that John was thrifty
and industrious fellow and could and would
get his own canoe into shore. My wies
father was well to do, but all he ever gave
her after our marriage was rooster and
five hens, so that everything you see is the
product of our joint hands. The road we
had to travel was a hard one, and for
number OF years was up hill all the time,
We never looked or turned backwards, bul
kept our shoulders 10 the wheel all the time,
can tell you, sir, that if one has industry,
pluck and energy he is bound to win. Dur
ing your visit you will want to see what we
have around US and be able to form some
idea what care and labor 1t has cost to pro
cure it.. II is all ours-all | owe in this
WOTtu 10 btNtu oSFNh
cents, and this has not been paid simply be.
cause have not been able to see the parties
In 1859 when Mr.. Browning purchased
the first part of his farm, as with the tracts
he subsequently added, every acre, save
probably few Immediately around his
residence, was covered with heavy timber,
embrac ng the several varieties usually found
in the mountain regions Of the eleven
hundred acres that he has reserved nearly
four hundred acres are in the highest state
of cultivation, with such an extensive array
of outbuildings as we have never before
seen equaled The cultivated portion is di-
vided into twenty four fields, all substan
TALLY fenced with heavy railing, with sub
stantial gateway into each field. These
fields vary from five to thirty five acres,
chiefly from twelve to thirty acres. Most
Of the fields are well set in clover, timothy
and the native grass, somewhat of the char
scter of the blue grass to be seen in the
Piedmont Valley OF Virginia, together with
a meadow of about hundred acres lying
Immediately in front of the house and ex'
tending to the public road along the Hoop
Pole ridge. Through the center OF this
meadow, and some two hundred yards from
the house, is q beautiful stream which Is
filed with trout This stream is one of the
many which empties into Deep Greek, on
which Lake Brown il situated. The noun
tain fields start from the summit OF Roman
Nose mountain, sloping gradually TO the
meadow In several of these fields are to
he seen little dimples, then gradual and
graceful curving ridges resembling the swell
Of q billow. SO beautifully are they ar
ranged that one might suppose they were
artificial terraces. They are, however, but
natural developments, which only tend u
brighten the beauty of the fields and rendel
the cultivation OF the came less difficult. d
all this cultivated portion we cannot now
recall that we saw left standing singlt
stump.
The arrangement and division of the field
are exceedingly artistic. Al many point
along the numerous lines Of fencing, at Ions
distances, have been left standing hug
naples, birch, oak, chestnut or pine trees
which. whilst they tend as an ornament
also u as q protection for sheep, cattl'
aud horses during the heated seasons.
Mr.. Browning uses no fertilizer save tina
which his yards on the farm furnishes. III
said he "was satisfied that lime would hav'
q good effect, particularly upon grass, bu
the cost OF transportation Is 30 heavy that
would render 1t very costly fertilizer.
his lehulnK CrOpb arc OhJs, pothbocn, JUN
wheat and hay. The season is rather shor
for corn. The soil Is well adapted to Thu
growing Of wheat and his crops have beef
large, with an average Of from twenty u
thirty bushels per acre. The continued lov
prices Of wheat and the expense OF get
ting it TO market have induced him TO aban
don for the present this branch Of industry
So he has found ii of late years with stool
raising. He said: 81 had given my atten
ton largely to this pursuit, but prices KEEP
80 low that sold off my herd early las
Spring. The facilities for furnishing TN
Eastern markets from Chicago are so grea
that there Ia no longer anything made II
raising cattle for market. Such OF my ha.
crop as is not consumed on the farm finds
good market at Oakland and other point
over good roads. The sheep industry hav
found remunerative, wool Is low, but goo
fat mutton and lambs command good price
on my farm"
One Of the quiet industries Of this farm
ever returning a handsome revenue, are th
apple orchards, of which there are two
the largest Of five hundred select trees Il
full bearing. Both orchards are near tn
residence, the largest resting over the curv
/ and from near the summit of one of th