The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-01-17
A VISIT TO oCc6NEECHEE.
Mr. Abernethy Urges Upon The Farmers
the Necessity of Improving Their
Farms


II. l.. Abernethy writes to the Newton
Enterprise:
81 have recently returned from a trip
to Durham, Hillsboro, Greensboro and
Salisbury and while at Hillsboro had the
pleasure of visiting 0cconeechee Farm
owned by Col. Julian s. Carr. This is
not only one of the finest farms in the
State but one Of the finest in the South.
spent an entire day looking over this
farm with his efficient managers, Messrs.
J. X. Fitzgelad, II. Holmes and r. r.
Harding. Those men / must say are as
clever as / ever met and / regretted the
time of leaving the company Of those hon
orable men. This farm consists of many
hundred acres of land and has four model
barns that coss near $4,000 with his
magnificent dwelling and tenant houses
and fine land lying so nicely makes this
place worth a trip to go and see. He
has over one hundred head of fine bred
registered Jersey cows and more than
that of hogs. He has the ideal poor
mans hog, the black Essex and red Jer-
seys His manager told me he would
kin $4,000 pounds of pork and that he
last year raised 1000 bushels Of corn be-
sides many other things too numerous to
mention. Col. Carr has sold most of his
fine horses, but yet has a few rs fine rs
can be found anywhere. | visited his
fancy race track and took pleasant ride
over it. also went through his beautiful
race horse barn which is near his track
Ills buildings are all very ornamental.
He has some Of the finest Siios in the
State ana with his large flock Of sheep
and every variety of fowls that one can
wish to raise. lie has one Of the finest
pleasure seeking places in the State. 1t
would be well for as many farmers as
can TO visit this farm and see what can
be done, as he never can regret the cost
Of his trip. Besides it would enliyen him
mp and make him go home with the deter
mination to be wider awake than ever be-
fore. Improvements is what we should
look to, as we farmers have heretofore
been too negligent in our own affairs.
Our fields are too frequently growing up
in thiekets and lands washing away.
More business like methods are needed
OH our farms. We should seed down
our thin lands in clover, grass and peas
and instead of letting our land go to rack,
we should build it up, and by doing SO
make our farms more ornamental and
homes more attractive. Then our boys
instead of wanting to desert the farm to
seek other employment would be better
pleased at home, and stick to the old time
farms. 1t is largely cur parents fault
that the boys are not contented. Our
buildings should be handily arranged and
all places made comfortable for both man
and beast. Just little energy and skill
can accomplish all that ! have said.
Everybody should have something for
attra ction at home and our girls should
have their flowers and other attractions
at home that would be pleasing to their
friends when they come. Besides inn
proyements and business methods ON our
farms will make it more pleasant for our
tenants. IL as much energy was taken
to identifying our country homes as is
taken for the city, our boys could not be
run to the towns, and the labor that We
employ would be better. So urge upon
every farmer to do little thinking and
act little every year, and then our prop
erty will become more valuable and home
seekers will be found. Flowing should
now begin for our crop. Peas should be
purchased while cheap, and all prepare
tions made for little advance in our
own business, and not study so much
about how things are going on in Wash
ington; for / feel and assure all that
those that are there will take care Of
themselves and think but little Of us;
for it is the duty Of us farmers to learn
that we are dependent upon ourselves,
and until we realize this fact and not de-
pend upon Congress, we viii be in a state
Of discomfort with pauperism at ones
door. So / think we should all study
carefully and attend to our own business
better; for If there was another line of
business in the world that was neglected
as much as the farms it would soon go
down. SO wake up, my fellow farmers,
for now is the time to begin as nothing
pleases man better let he he who he viii
or may, than to go through the country
and see well-inaproyed business managed
farms"