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OFFICIAL ORGAN OF DOOLY COUNTY AND OF THE CITY OF VIENNA. LARGEST BONA FIDE CIRCULATION OF ANY PAPER IN THE COUNTY.
VOL. III. NO. II.
VIENNA, GA., FRIDAY, AtJGUST 28, 1908.
A PEN nCTUIIE OF TBE MODELLA FARM IN DOOLY COUNTY, BY J.D. NORRIS.
EIGHT PAGES.
Climate and Soil.
Vienna, the beautiful, prosper
ous and progressive Capital City
of Dooly connty, Georgia, is lo
cated in one of the best farming
I potions of country to be found
' not only in the great common
wealth of Georgia, but of the en-
I tire South. A careful study of the
Jfodella Farm will abundantly
justify us in making this seeming
ly extravagant declaration.
■ The climate of Southwest Geor-
' gi». the average temperature is 80
and 53 degrees for summer and
winters, respectively. The aver
age rainfall is about four feet per
year. The soil is a sandy alluvial.
This part of the state is low and
generally flat, or very slightly un
dulhting and rises very gradually
from the sea coast. Its elevation
above the sea is ioto 250. Vienna
is within thirty miles of the
geographical center of the state.
The climate is an ideal one. We
have no extreme dry or rainy sea
sons here. This county is highly
favored with agricultural advan
tages, both in climate, soil,seasons
and otherwise.
The streets of Vienna run east
and west, north and south; North
Third street of Vienna extends
. through the center of the Modella
Farm, a large portion of this
(Modella) furm being within the
incorporated limits of this city.
, . A A Historical Sketch.
F Mr. John B. McDonald bought
174 acres of land from his brother,
T£ev. P. G. McDonald, in Decem-
, 1897 for $2,600. Thu was
,t was known as the Bailey
•y.Heard place at that time. There
' Was about 120 acres of open land
£,(-yand the rest was in the woods,
awamps and ponds. The cleared
,t r land had been in cultivation 20 to
. t50 years. The average amount of
j.seed cotton and corn this land
l produced per acre at the time Mr.
McDonald purchased it was about
\ 400 pounds of seed cotton and 8
bushels of corn per acre. Now this
same land produces a bale und a
half of cotton and 40 bushels of
_ com per acre and other crops in
. I* proportion.
At the time this farm was se
cured there were but two tenant
houses that could bo used on the
place. In December 1898 Mr.
McDonald bought 120 acres from
the West place adjoining his place
on the north side. There were
about 00 acres of this land then in
cultivation, the rest being in the
woods, swamps and ponds and one
small tenant house on it. That
land at the time of its purchase
produced little cotton or corn per
•ere. In December 1900, Mr.
McDonald purchased 50 acres of
land from J. P. Heard bordering
the southeast comer of his place,
for which he gave Mr. Heard $80
per acre. There were 42 acres in
cultivation. This land was fresh
and fertile, producing about 1000
pounds of seed cotton and 15 bush
els of corn per acre, there being
■
*vev.
&
one small tenant house on this
plaoe. The entire fifty aores were
all located in the city limits. In
January 1901 Mr. John B. Mc
Donald and Mr. Thos. Egleston,
of Atlanta,formed a copartnership
in the Modella Farm. They then
bought 172 1-2 acres of land from
Mr. D. B. Leonard at $15 per acre.
This land is located on the west
side of the farm. The whole of
1721-2 acres was in the woods, and
there was no house on it at all.
In February of the same year they
bought 100 1-2 from T. R. Smith
on the north, 50 aores of which
was in cultivation and the rest in
the woods, two tenant houses on
this place. In August 1902 they
bought 126 8-4 aores from Mrs
Georgia Melton. This place forms
the northeastern boundry of the
Modella Farm. There were 7o
acres in cultivation and the rest
in the forest. There was a fairly
good dwelling house and a nice
barn on this place.
There are now 764 acres in the
entire farm, of which about 575
acres are in cultivation and the
rest in woods pasture and woods.
Egleston & McDonald recently
admitted Mr; Edward Howell to
partnership with them. This
company formed and chartered
themselves under the name of
Egleston,McDonald & Howell Co.,
with a paid in capital of $50,000
with the privilege of increasing to
$250,000. This new firm will 1
carry on the development of the
Modella Farm to a state of highest
production. This year they wiil
produce some 400 bales of cotton,
large quantities ofsyrup, potatoes,
peas, meat and plenty of "corn and
forage for the plantation use.
They are also raising some nice
cattle)- „
Their bam and dwelling houses
and the general improvement of
the land is evidence of their pro
gress as well os faith, in farming
They have stumped a large
acreage and by another season will
have some 550 acres free of stumps.
This land they break very deep
and subsoil all they can, fertilizing
heavily. In cultivating they have
no certain number of times to
plow over thoir crops, but do so
as fast os possible, often plowing
their cotton over from six to eight
times, thus developing rapidly the
young bolls. This farm is press
ing to the point of producing one
and a half bales of cotton to each
acre planted, and from 40 to 50
bushels of corn. They now have
afield of twelve acres in cane and
with another season likely to
double it, the net products of
which will run into the thousands
alone.
Public Improvements.
Mr. John B. McDonald was
reared on the farm in Dooly coun
ty and has been a successful farm
er before he secured this modol
farm.
This farm was considered a real
poor one before the present owners
AVENUE ON THE “MODELLA FARM.”
began to operate it, but it is now
considered one of the best in the
state. Some of this farm has
been in cultivation fifty years,
now this sanje land prodnees a
bale or more of cotton per acre.
This shows conclusively that Dooly
county land does not wear out,
but actually becomes better each
year. The old lands in Dooly are
better and more valuable today
than at any past time.
Modella Avenue.
An avenue 40 feet wide extends
over a mile through the center of
this farm, with a good plank fenoe
on each side and a beautiful
broad sidewalk on each side, which
is kept in first-class condition all
the time.
Buildings.
In a five minutes drive out
North Third street from Vienna,
you come to this now famous
farm. On your right you pass
North View cemetery, on your left
you pass the palacial home of J.
P. Heard, Sr., and as you pro
ceed you pass the lovely home of
J. P. Heard, Jr. On yqur imme
diate left you pass John G. Fore
hand’s uew elegant residence, and
on your right you view the fine
corn field of Mr. Ed Howell, which
is a part of the farm. Mr. John
B Whiteheads handsome residence
is on the same size. You next
come to a lovely park and oak
grove, containing four acres in all.
and 'enclosed by a plank fence.
On your immediadate left a large
cotton field, containing two hun
dred acres can be seen averaging
from four to Seven feet High, (this
August 12.) Half of this field
has no stumps, roots or rocks in
it. On the left you come to Mr
R. A. Murray’s home. He has a
new house and five acres of land.
As you proceed, on the right you
see hundreds of acres in cotton at
one view. This pretty field has
two hundred acres free from rocks,
stumps and roots—the land will
mako a bale of cotton per acre
this year.
The next house you reach is
where Mr. Chas. A. Joiner, the
efficient superintendent of the
farm, lives. It is a pretty 5-room
cottage well finished and painted.
Near by on the same side of the
avenue is a large lot in which is
a large and convenient barn, with
stalls, cribb, forage lofts, etc.
Just adjacent is a lot for cattle,
with a large barn, a photograph of
which appears on this page. Over
on the opposite side of the avenue
is a large building 40x100 feet.
Under this large structure a fine
syrup plant is situated, and here
is where the farm impliment,
machinery, fertilizers, etc., aro
kept. On the right of the avenue
for a half mile there are no build
ings, but a beautiful field, no
stumps or trees to lie seen on it at
all. There is a fine crop growing
on it. On the left hand side from
the lost bam mentioned, there
are twelve cottages all in a row
and all built alike—three rooms,
a veranda and a stack chimney to'
each of them, all .equal distance
from the avenue. A picture of
them can he seen on this page. At
the end of the row of these cotta
ges, there is on the right side of
the avenue, a five room house
with two verandas, and on the
opposite is a large barn and sta
bles, and further on is another
three room tenant house. Near
the north end of the avenue is a
six room house with bams and
other necessary houses. There is
one more good tenant house on
the southwest comer and one on
the ostitral boundary of the farm
The Topography.
The farm is generally level,
though one of the highest points
arouriS Vienna is on this farm.
This 44** not mean that there is
any Vefy high bills at all, but
there a ridge starting in the
liorthiMMtera part of it, running
in'a s4 ithwestern direction, trav
eling the entire farm and form
ings di mplete water ahead. There
gradual slopes extending from the
trater ahead ravines and small
branches. There.isa small branch
beginning in the southeastern part
and floYts southeast, this branch
watering that part of it. There
is alto a small branch beginning
near the superintendent’s home
flowing northwest a short dis
tance, and another beginning in
the eastern part flowing west, and
one starting in the northwest cen
tral flows southwest, and all three
flows together and thus forms a
good Sized brook and flows south
west. There are others about
over the farm giving complete
drainage and thus watering the
entire' farm. There are seven
miles of ditches on the farm, each
branch being well ditched, so
there is no waste land on it at all.
The farm is well fenced and di-
vided into convenient fields, with
a large pasture located in the
western part of the farm, contain
ing 70 acres. It is a model past
ure. In it is kept over one hun-
>d head of hogs, over one hun-
dred head of fine cattle and a
large flock of sheep. One hundred
ami of‘new land has been added
this year and one hundred acres
for next year. They will have
seven,hundred acres in cultivation
next year in one body. There are
150 acres of bottom or hammock
lands on this farm that is as rioh
and productive as can be found in
the United states.
Five hundred aores of this farm
has all the stumps out of it, and
by another season all the stumps
on the entire farm will be re
moved. As the land is level and
free from stumps, roots or rocks,
any kind of improved machinery
can bo used on it as successfully
as any farm in the United States.
Syrup Made by Steam.
It is conceited by government
officials after many years of scien
tific investigation by learned ex
perts thnt the best quality of cane
can be produced in this part of
Georgia in the United States.
There are twelve acres on the
Modella Farm planted in cane
this year, and thousands of gal
lons of syrup will be produced
from it. There is one of the best
equipped plants' for manufactur
ing syrup on this farm in the
state. The mill is run by steam
and the syrup is cooked by steam,
so the syrup is nevor scorched or
otherwise damaged by cooking it
in this way. The daily capacity
of this plant is 500 gallons. The
farmers for miles around Vienna
have their syrup made on tho
Modella Farm. The Modella
brand of syrup has already won a
remarkable reputation throughout
the state. The syrup iH put in one
gallon cans properly sealed and
labeled, and is shipped all over
the country by wholesale and re
tail.
The cain syrup and sugar in
dustry of South Georgia is des
tined to rival Louisana at no
distunt day.
Forage Crops.
The soil and climate of this
section is well adapted to the
culture of the most valuable for
age crops. A large quantity of
crab grass is raised and harvested
on the farm. Two crops are out,
even after oats and wheat. Fox
tail millets are by far the best
variety of millets grown in the
country, is produced for feed on
the farm. German millet is raised
in large quantities for stock.
Hundreds of bushels of cowpeas
and other varieties are produced
on the farm. Velvet beans are
attracting a great deal of atten
tion throughout the south at this
time. The first farmer in this
section to raise them was on the
Modella Farm* The entire corn
crop is planted in velvet beans
this year. Just as soon as the
farmers learn its value and merits
both as a forage crop and a fertil
izer, each farmer will raise large
quantities of it.
There are five aores of this farm
planted in rutabagers, and hun
dreds of bushels wiil be produced
this season for stock and market
of the finest variety and quality.
This is the home of the sweet
potato and hundreds of bushels
are produced on this farm every
year for the market and for tho
the stock.
The Georgia watermelon is fa
mous the world over, and are
grown to perfection on this farm.
Immense quantities of the largest
and best flavored that a. son of
Africa ever put his mammouth
lips to. They are put on the
market and fed to the swine.
Casava is grown on this farm os
successfully as it can be raised in
Florida or Cuba. Tl$_paaava
makes fine stock feed And the best
starch is obtained frbm it of any
thing else in the World. There
may be a starch factory in Vienna
some day.
Large quantities of broomcorn
is raised on this farm, the seed of
which makes an excellent poultry
and stock feed and good brooms
are made from the stalk and top.
A broom factory may be estab
lished here next season.
Peanuts are planted on this
farm for stock, especially for hogs
in large quantities each year. It
does not pay to fatten hogs on
corn when ground poos can be
made so much cheaper for swine.
Ten acres of onions were planted
on this farm, but tho seed was not
good and the cold caused the on
ions not to come up, but onions
will grow here, and it will soon be
one of the profitable crops grown
on this experimental farm for
South Georgia. Amber cane is
another profitable crop grown on
this place. A good crop of oats
was made this year on the farm,
thon cotton was planted on the
same land, and a bale of cotton
per acre will be produced this
season. This has been done re
peatedly on this farm for the last
three years. Other farmers in
Dooly are doing the same thing
this year.
Pulling Stumps.
The stump puller used on this
farm is the best ever invented up
to date. Three aores of land oan
be stumped without moving it, all
kinds and sizes of stamps are
eassly pulled up, roots and all.
The pine stumps are cut and split
up and is the best kind of kind
ling and fire wood. The stump
holes are easily filled up from the
loose dirt deposited nearby. The
cost of removing the stumps from
the land has been greatly reduced
and the land is put in condition
so any kind of farm machinery,
plows or improvements can be suc
cessfully operated, and thus great
ly reducing the expense of culti
vating the land, and increasing
the quality and quantity of the
products.
To make farming successful and
profitable, the expense account
must be cut down. There are
many laborsaving machines and
plows that oan be easily operated
where there are no stumps. La
bor is becoming expensive and
unreliable, if two men can do the
work of three, then the cost of
producing farm products would be
greatly reduced. The up-to-date
farmer will cut expenses wherever
it is possible to do so in order to
increase his profits.
The Best Is Used.
The best horses, mules and oxen
to bo had is used on this farm,
the best wagons, carts and vehicles
are used, the best plows, harrows,
grain drills, reapers and other
farm impliments are used. The
best breeds of hogs, cattle and
sheep are kept on this farm. The ,
best skilled farm laborers are only.,
employed here; good tenant hous
es with patohes and gardens at
tached to eaoh are provided for
them. These hands are paid good
wages and they live well and or
derly, happy and oontented.
The proprietors of the farm are
kind to the hands. In the second
chapter of the book of Ruth and
fourth verse, when Boas went into
tne field where his hands were a$.
work, he greeted them thus: “The*
Lord be with you,’’ And they, (the.
hands) answered him book: “Tfee
Lord bless thee.’’ This is the spirit
that exists between the proprietors
and laborers on the Modella Farm.
This is the true and biblical spirit
that should exist between all
capital and labor. This is the
cure for labor strikes that ar%
demoralizing the social world,
commercial and political condi
tions in our country today.
Profits on the Farm.
There are a hundred acres that
was heavily fertilized this season
by the best quality of barn yard
manure. The formula used for
mixing the fertilizer was one made
by Mr. John B. McDonald and is
the best to be had. After a care-
Continued on the lost page.
CATTLE ON THE “MODELLA FARM£