West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1900-09-06

A =
mer climate is comparatively cool
and also rather moist. Wheat is also
a regular crop. From a sample lot
of just one.half acre, one-half
bushel was sown and I7H bushels
were threshed.
A flock of 200 chickens is kept,
and the garden is very profitable
feature of the farm. The straw
berries grown are very large and
fine, and sell at the summer hotels
for forty cents gallon. A consid-
cradle sugar orchard is another app
purtenance, and the apple orchard
is not neglected.
The barn is SO los feet, with a
shed adjunct running the entire
length. Mr.. Beachy believes that
warm quarters conduce to the great
est supply of milk, and he acts ac-
cordingly. A large quantity of mill
feed is bought to supplement what
is produced on the spot, and the
building of silo is contemplated.
Silage has long since ceased to be
an experiment, and it has been
found that silo need not be of ex-
pensive construction. A round form
is advocated by many, not alone on
the score of cheapness, but also be-
cause sharp corners in a silo are
liable to cause mould and waste.
1t is not even necessary to chop fine
the fodder that is put into the silo,
although coarse silage occupies
more space.
The assortment of farm machinery
is very complete. All the threshing
necessary is done by machine
costing only $50. 1t does not sepa-
rate the chaff, and that has to be
done by tanning mill. This is not
looked upon as positive disadvan-
tage, since it is often necessary to
fan the grain that comes from a
complete thresher. To afford power
for the thresher and feed mill a
portable ten-horse power engine is
used.
Among the other machines are
binder, hay fork and hay loader.
There is side delivery hay rake,
which both rakes the hay and de-
livers it to wagon. The mower
has six-foot cutter bar. Very nearly
as much speed can be made as with
shorter bar, and the smoothness
OF the land favors the use of a
long bar.
Mr.. BeachY considers that while
the zigzag rail fence has been a ne
cessity in the past, it harbors an
undesirable amount of trash. He is
gradually displacing the old fences
by Others made of woven wire.
The farm house is long and
commodious structure, with a shady
porch running the whole length.
The yard is amply shaded by trees,
as well as beauti6ed by shrubs and
flowers, and is carpeted with an
unusually fine sward. There is not
only subdivision of work on the
part of the owners, but three hands
are also employed
From the description given it may
be seen that the resources of the
farm are quite diversified and that
every edge is made TO cut. AS to
the gross value of the yearly output.
the reader may form some idea for
himself 1t will certainly appear
that the farm is not run at a loss
nor that the profit on the same is
inconsiderable
The Beachys are OF the Amish
faith, and of that Pennsylvania Ger
man stock, than whom no better
farmers can be found in the Union.
They but exemplify the fact that on
very many an American farm the
profits are meagre TO needless de.
gree. Mr.. Beachy aims to be a
progressive farmer. Farming is his
pride, and he is a constant reader
and student Of farm periodicals and
Of the methods found useful by pro.
gressiye farmers elsewhere He
thinks ruts are to be summed and
improvement constantly sought.
The ditching and thing Of the lower
lying portions Of his farm is one Of
the improvements deemed advanta-
gcous, and it is his intention to un.
dertake the same at an early day.
THE ARGUS correspondent was
given every opportunity to inspect
the farm and see the methods in
use, and was received by the
Beachys at their hospitable home
with all courtesy and attention.
O. y. MORTON.