The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-09-16
A FINE WAKE FARM.
Mrs. uCker's Farm at Method
a Lovely Place.
The Success Which Has Followed the Industry
Of a Thrifty Negro Who ATTENDS to
Business Instead of Politics.
Editorial Correspondence.)

Method. N. c., Sept. 15.-The prettiest
sight in the world is to look upon the
growing crops of a large and well-tilled
farm. Yesterday morning in company
with Mr.. j. w. Avent, who is the superin-
tendent of the farm belonging to Mrs.
R. S. Tucker, of Raleigh, situated at this
place, | drove over the 625 acres of Mrs.
fuckers magnificent farm. 1t is fine
body of land and has the best frontage of
any farm in North Carolina. In the early
summer l was passing through Method
and was more than ever struck by the
beauty of this farm and its promising
crops, excelling anything had ever seen
in any part of North Carolina All the
old soldiers in North Carolina remember
it as Camp Mangum." 1t was purchased
afterward by Major Tucker at different
times until now it is solid body of f25
acres, lying north of the S. A. l.. and
N. C. R. R. In spite of the drought and
rusts that have parched crops every
where and cut short the yields, the crops
of this farm are wonderfully large when
the crop conditions are considered. There
is one body of corn on this farm that,
in spite of the adverse conditions, is as
fiourishing looking as if it had been visited
by good seasons. 1t is as beautiful a
field, containing 80 acres, as could be
found on the prairies of Kansas 1t will
average forty bushels to the acre.
There are 80 acres in cotton on this
farm, and the drought has cut off the
yield about third. On the best part
of the farm the yield will be one and a
half bales to the acre. If the season
had been good the yield would have been
at least two bales to the acre. Mr.. Avent
is a great believer in peas. In one body
there is 100 acres in peas, and for this
season they are as fine as can be found
anywhere. Peas says Mr.. Avent, will
bring 100 per cent if you don't save a
pea He mowS the vine and then
ploughs under. He will make two tons
of good hay the crop over. On this farm
there are also IS acres Of corn land sowed
down in peas. His motto is, ''to put peas
everywhere you can, it drives the nitro
gen from the air depositing it on the
ground and enriches the land"
Besides the pea vine hay there are 100
acres in native hay, clover and grass,
which was moved twice and this is the
third crop A more beautiful sight for
grazing | have never seen. Mr.. Avent
expects to have two hundred tons of hay
which will bring $4,000, for sale, be-
sides leaving plenty Of native hay to run
the farm this year. On AZ acres seven
hundred bushels of wheat were grown, and
were made on the poorest land on the
farm, and were planted there to hold the
land until it was terraced. Speaking of
terracing the land, the system of teri
racing on this farm is most admirable,
This work has been going on for years
and now that most of this beautiful land
is terraced it prevents washing and I'M
jury to the crops. The farmer who is
troubled with his land washing would
do we'll to come here and study the sys-
tenn of terracing which has added much
to this beautiful farm.
Mr. Avent is one of the best farmers
in the State as we'll as one of It's best
| citizens He keeps all his farming imple-
ments in fine shape and is a strong be-
| lever in compost. He believes that the
secret CT farming is to keep the land inn
proved. and to keep it from washing Ito
put peas everywhere possible.
A morning spent on a farm like Mrs.
| fuckers is enough 10 make a town man
| Joy the delights of country life. The de-
licious milk and butter and fine fruit and
| pure water from a deep, clear we'll all
| conduce to health and happiness. In
| the successful management Of Mr.. Avent
| it is a treat ITO see how Wake county
| land can be developed and made produce
| tive.