By F.H. Jeter,
Extension Editor, N.C. State College, Raleigh, as published in the Charlotte Observer Aug. 22, 1949. Coca
cola was lowercase in the newspaper article, so I’m not sure if they meant the
real Coca Cola or were just misnaming another cola drink. Also, although the
article refers to mixed drinks, as punch was sometimes called.
A farm tour held the other day shows that Chatham farmers
have lots over which they can be thankful. Crops are good and the country folks
are getting along fine.
About 150 of them gathered for the tour. They assembled at
Clapp Brothers farm machinery place in Siler City, where Sam Clapp treated everybody
to coca cola and ice cream. The tour then proceeded out to the farm of Lynn and
Harvey Paschal near Siler City. Here they observed 7,000 laying hens in a house
40 feet wide by 500 feet long.
The house has plenty of fresh running water obtained by
building a dam across a small stream just above the laying house. This water
runs continuously, day and night, supplying the hens with plenty of fresh, cool
water. The trough is kept clean and sanitary by the fresh water moving through
it at all times. On the opposite side of this watering trough is a feeding
system so arranged that a feeder box can be pushed by the weight of the hand and
two feeding troughs are filled automatically. The Paschals says that with 7,000
laying hens to feed and water, it is absolutely necessary for them to save
steps.
Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Edwards of Siler City, Route 2, have
rearranged their farm home so as to add a bath without detracting from the
general lines of the old home. Mrs. Edwards also has improved and renovated her
kitchen into a new and modern workshop. She has 600 beautiful pullets, now
developing into layers for the winter, out in an open range of lespedeza and
soybeans. The young birds eat the green grazing and are healthy and vigorous.
As the 150 guests left the Edwards home, Mrs. Edwards very thoughtfully served
a cooling mixed drink.
This interest in modern farm homes continued as the visitors
stopped by the home of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Flowers of Siler City, Route 1. The
Flowers have just completed a new and modern brick home. On Route 3 from Siler
City, the traveling group saw 600 fast growing turkeys on open range and 30
fine pigs developing on a pasture and a self-feeder. These two valuable crops
are being grown by Fred Harris.
From pigs to turkeys, the group moved next to the farm of
J.F. Boulden of Pittsboro, Route 2, were they saw one of the new 20-stanchion
grade “A” barns now operating in the county. The oldest boy of the family,
Robert Bouldin, is an FFA member and he and his younger brother, Charlie, are
selling grade “A” milk from eight nice Jersey cows. Robert, incidentally, was
awarded a trip to Kansas City for doing such a good job in dairy farming.
At the farm of T.M. Clark, Pittsboro, Route 2, the 150
travelers saw Guernsey cows on good pastures. At the farm of E.J. Clark, of the
same address, they saw excellent Dixie 17 hybrid corn, and at the farm of Mr.
and Mrs. Alton C. Campbell, also on Pittsboro, Route 2, they observed the
modern home and about 18 acres of nice alfalfa at one side.
By this time, folks were hungry, so they spread a picnic
dinner on the lawn at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Durham. Just below them,
as they enjoyed their dinner on this spacious lawn under the shade of the
trees, was the sparkling waters of the farm fish pond. These fish ponds are
becoming more and more numerous over Chatham County as the people recognize
their beauty and usefulness.
The first stop after lunch was at the farm of Johnnie and
Simon Burke, Pittsboro, Route 1. The guests were shown sheep, hogs, young dairy
heifers and mature milk cows, all grazing on a nice permanent pasture. The
various animals were harvesting their own feed from a well-developed clover and
grass sod and were making money for the owners. The Burkes showed their
visitors replacement pullets on open range and 29 acres of hybrid corn. It was
a hot, humid afternoon and so the Burkes made fast friends by serving ample portions
of cold watermelon to everyone on the tour.
The crowd next moved over to the John Strowd farm,
Pittsboro, Route 2, where they saw five purebred cows and heifers owned by the
Strowd twins, Wayne and Warren. These young 4-H Club boys are handling their
cows like accomplished dairymen and are selling milk to provide a cash income
for the farm. The boys say they will expand their present herd just as fast as
possible and really get into the dairy farming when they are a bit older. The
matter of refreshments was getting to be a habit by that time and the visitors
had spent only a few minutes with the Strowds before they were served a
delicious mixed drink.
On the Jimmie Gus farm, Chapel Hill, Route 3, the touring
party saw how the owner had removed rocks from one of his fields and had used
the stones to build a comfortable rock home with a central heating plant. The
heating system cost only $105 and furnishes plenty of warm air through three
registers to keep the home comfortable in cold weather.
C.C. Brewer, of the same address, had a field of Dixie 17
and some old-style corn at his farm. The last stop of the day was made on the
farm of W.H. Meachum, Chapel Hill, Route 1. Here the group spent considerable
time inspecting a new and modern dairy barn and a heard of purebred Jersey
cattle on a good permanent pasture. Again, the folks all had a round of bottled
drinking served by their hosts before the tour disbanded and the members
departed for their own homes
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