Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-11-28

Drltter 10 aLIeHlPI " cap
probation to the number OF farmers
whose homes he has visited this week.
and from whom he has received such
cordial receptions would only be
sentiment poorly expressed. Rather
lot these columns each week convey
to our farmers something of material
benefit.
This column will carry comment
of special interest to farmers next
week on the tenant farmer. This sub
iect has been written on by. many OF
our best agricultural writers, but the
need is felt for an unbiased comment
which will apply to this particular Sec
ton of the Old Dominion.
Our old friend, Mr.. Fred M. STRAIT
ton, of Agnewville, Prince William
county, reports a litter OF fourteen
pigs from a purebred 0. /. c. sow.
Mr.. Stratton is a firm believer IN
raising purebred livestock and his
farm displays an example OF thrift
that might well be copied by some OF
our best farmers. The Guernsey is
the best all round COW for the farmer,
Mr.. Stratton claims, basing his as
sertion on the fact that this breed is
typical of the kind desired by our
farmers as family COW. First, be-
cause the milk contains high per
cent. of butter fat when a general
average is taken; second, the Guern-
sey is not as susceptible to weather
changes as some other breeds.
An excellent example of diversified
farming may be seen on Landonbon
Farm, owned by DR.. William Thorn
wall Davis, Of Washington, D. c. The
manager, Mr.. Catlett, is farmer
thoroughly versed in the subject of
farming, and displays a knowledge of
livestock and poultry rarely found IN
specialist on diversified farming.
Crop rotation is being worked out in
three, five and seven year rotations;
and sufficient plant food is being put
in the land by turning under cow
peas, soy beans, rye and crimson
clover. When Mr.. Catlett took
charge of Landonbon, the farm was
very much run down, but the effect
of systematic management is appar-
ent in the fields, buildings, poultry
and livestock.
Landonbon is specializing in single
comb White Leghorns, improved Black
Essex hogs, and Holstein cattle. AL
though the dairy part of the work is
not yet in operation, the decision is
made that Holsteins will be the breed.
1t would be hard to find finer lot of
White Leghorns than those owned by
Dr.. Davis.
A black Essex SOW has litter of
ten fine pigs. The fattening pen con-
tains a number of porkers almost
ready for the market. One might
spend month on this historic old
place and still find something new.
At Springfield Farm, The Drifter
was received by a brother-in-law OF
the owner, Mr.. ]. C. Frye. Before
any mention was made of the farming
operations, a box bush hedge over 200
years old was pointed out. This
hedge is by far the largest of any
The Drifter has ever seen, towering
above the head of the average man,
and averaging about eight feet in
diameter per bush. 1t is stated that
thousands of people have visited
Springfield Farm to see this hedge
and hundreds have tried to buy it.
Springfield Farm was the home of
Martin Cockburn, who married the
daughter of George Mason, the own
err and builder of historic old Guns
ton Hall, now the property of Mr..
Louis Hertle.
Springfield is essentially a truck
farm, from fifty to sixty acres being
put in truck each year, and twenty
to twenty-five acres planted to field
crops for feed. Mr.. Frye is going
into the hay raising game on large
scale. He has just seeded about fiji
teen acres of Timothy and expects to
add more next year. Meat, milk,
butter and eggs are produced in suf-
ficient quantity for home use and a
goodly portion is left to carry to mar
ket. Well does this farm carry out
our slogan to Live at home and
board at the same place"
An item of more than passing in
terest is the giant poplar at Poplar
View on Gunston Cove. Poplar View
is a little headline jutting out into
Gunston Cove and is socalled because
the river captains used the giant pop