The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-12-21
LETTER FROM DIR. ERNEST T
BYNUM.

A short time ago we published let
ter from DIR. Ernest I. Bynum, OF the
State University. This we clipped from
the Chatham Citizen. Prof. Bynum>
has now written for the same paper a
longer article in which he describes his
visit to a millionaire farmer in Ger
many.
Prot. Bynum saye:
The development of agriculture in
Germany and Austro Hungary in re
cent years has fully kept pace with the
industrial growth of those countries
and must be regarded as one of the
most interesting phases in the advance
OF European civilization. In the prov
ince of Saxony a great many farmers
during this period have become nil
liOnaires. It was my pleasure a few
weeks before leaving G8rmany to be
the guest of one OF these more fortunate
farmers and to become fairly we'll &C
quainted with the methods which he
had employed in amassing so much
wealth.
II was invited by a young man
whose acquaintance I had made in
Halle to come up into Anhalt and
spend day with him on this celebrated
estate known far and near as Gerlebog.
This young man had been student in
Halle, but had at that time completed
MS studies in agriculture and was a
volunteer inspector in Gerlebog.
IT was little surprised on my ar
rival at the nearest station to fad a
coachman in elegant livery, with one
of the finest conveyances I have ever
seen, enquiring for an ''Amerikaner''
who was to be guest of the Geheim-
rath Sanberlict. I readily satisfied
myself that was the person sought for
and was conveyed in style to the castle
of the G5heimreth.
ITO my surp1is ise I was met in the
court of the castle by the old gentleman
himself, who conducted me into his
dining room where he had provided
lunch for me consisting of bottle of
high wine, carviare and some fresh
blood sausage, which the old gentleman
seemed to prize very highly. He was
"a years old, seemingly enjoying g0od
health but complained of rheumatism
and was limplng slightly. He assured
me that was the only American he
had ever known who had such com
mand OF the language as to render a
con versation easy or interesting, and
90 he piled me with every conceivable
question about America and American
farming He couldn't understand our
landlord and tenant system and
seemed to be especially interested in
the negro.
The old gentleman was drinking q
bottle of champagne and as he warmed
up he became rather witty and as
tempted to chide me by saying the
American farmers didn't have sense
enough to raise their own sugar, but
we're dependent upon the Germans for
their supply of this article, but when I
replied that confidently believed that
he would live long enough to see
American farmers not only supply ing
their own needs but sending their sur
plus product to Germany as they were
already doing in respect to many OF
the cereals, he laughed heartily.
''Mr. Sanberlict is reported to be
worth about $25 900, 900, the bulk OF
which he has made out of the ground
and this, too, was rented ground. G8r
lebog is one of five farms which he has
unCer his control, one of which he
owns and four are crown domains, en-
tailed estates belonging to the Duke Of
Anh8lt. Together these estates com
prise about 6 900 acres, if I have calcu
lated correctly, and the domains are
leased for 25 years. The Geheimrath b
informed me that he had leased them
90 years ago for So $50 a year and had
already bargained for q renewal at the
expiration of the % years at the rate Of
S22, 500. He said, his h1ghness, the
Duke had been offered $50, 600 but in
asmuch as he the Geheimrath, had
caused the lands to increase to such an
extent in value he should have them
for 81, 500 less than their real rent.
my friend, the Inspector, intimated
that the Geheimrath had managed to
lease the domains at first for q sum
very much smsller than the price they
would have brought on the market.
By this means he thought Mr., sanber
lict had grown wealthy so rapidly.
THE court of the castle was rec
tangle in shape; at one end was the