'Cam Morrison as a Farmer,' 1935

“Cam Morrison As a Farmer” by Ida Briggs Henderson, Carolina Co-Operator, December, 1935

The ex-Governor and ex-Senator is doing quite well, thank you, on his 2,800-acre farm over near Charlotte.

Near the intersection of Sharon Road and Morrison Boulevard, about one mile from the city limits of Charlotte, is located the farm of ex-Senator and Mrs. Cameron Morrison. In the heart of a grove of magnificent trees, real monarchs of the forest, rises the handsome home which, with its numerous windows and spreading wings, resembles an old English mansion.

Started 10 years ago when Cameron Morrison retired from the gubernatorial chair of his State to come back home to settle, the farm has grown in land, live stock, fowl, and buildings, until now it is probably unsurpassed by any farm of its type. Twelve hundred acres, together with 1,400 more adjoining, which are leased, comprise the farm.

Seven hundred acres are planted in grains, including oats, wheat, barley, corn, peas, and alfalfa for hay. These acres present a lovely sight . . . green in the early fall and winter, later to assume the color of pure gold, then the shocks of grain dot the fields with promise of plenty. W.W. Covington is in charge of crops, all of which are used for the feeding of the live stock and fowl. All mixing of feeds is done on the premises.

Fifty Hired Men

In the planting, cultivating, and harvesting of the crops, the farm uses 10 mules, and approximately an equal number of tractors, together with power harvesters, threshers, shredders, and corn and hay binders. A mechanic is employed whose sole duty is to service this machinery. Mr. Covington states that he has 50 regular men hired to work the crops, with an additional 12 employed by the greenhouses. Visitors are struck with the extreme orderliness of the farm for, with all the lush growth of spring and summer, there does not seem to be an extra blade of grass where one should not be. However, the intent and purpose of the farm is the breeding of live stock and fowls, and only foodstuff is raised on the broad acres.

Kope Elias is in charge of live stock with a large corp of helpers including several carpenters, whose duty it is to keep in repair the extensive buildings which shelter the live stock and accessories of the farming operations.

The herd of milk cattle, comprising about 39 imported Jersey cows, present an interesting sight when they are brought lowing from the pastures for evening’s milktime . . . their symmetrical, sleek sides almost reflect the rays of the sun as they walk leisurely along contentedly chewing their cuds and go to their stalls to give up their rich burden of milk. And rich it is, for three of these cows are what is termed gold medal cows, meaning that they have produced enough butterfat throughout the year to exceed the high standards the Jersey Cattle Club has set for this award. In fact, the amount of butterfat in milk gauges its richness, and one of these gold medal cows has produced as much as 711 pounds per year! Others of the herd have yielded over 600 pounds yearly, and it has become necessary to milk these high producers three times daily. This milking is done by hand, as electric milkers are not used on test cattle. In addition to this fine herd of milch cows, there are approximately 90-odd young Jersey cows being reared to follow the example set by the mature animals. The butter is sold, but the milk is kept to feed the rest of the live stock and fowl.

South’s Largest Jersey Herd

The Morrison milk cattle is the largest herd of imported Jerseys in the South, yet the standard set by Mr. Morrison is so high that he has lately added to this fine bunch of cattle the aristocracy of Jerseys in a group of freshly imported cattle whose blue-blooded lineage is beyond compare: These have brought the Morrison herd up to more than 70; among this number 42 are imported from the little island off the French coast which has been the native heath of Jersey cattle since time immemorial. Included in the shipment is Ixia’s Oxford Lad, an internationally known bull, today assuming absolute monarchy over the rest of the imported herd at the farm.

While Jerseys are kept for their milk-producing qualities, Mr. Morrison thinks that Hereford cattle are the finest for beef, and his farm boasts several hundred of these white-faced cattle browsing on the fields after the grain is harvested. It is noticeable that this farm specializes in one breed of each animal and fowl they raise. This is carried out through the entire line of live stock, just one species of swine, the Berkshire. These animals grunt over a large acreage by the hundreds, and in the fall are converted into pork, the hams and bacon cured, although many are sold for breeders. Also, there is a flock of several hundred Shropshire sheep; the wool is sold on the open market, some of them are slaughtered, but many have been sold for breeders.

Also a Deer Park

On the premises are complete and commodious refrigerating plants for the meat and fowl intended for the local market. The housewives of Charlotte have found out that no fowl is fatter, no meat more tender than that handled by the Morrison Farm, and drive out in scores each day to market at the refrigerating plant, where they are served by efficient meat cutters. Here, also, the cream is separated and butter is churned and kept in the huge refrigerators.

In the deer park there is a herd of several dozen animals, one of the largest private herds in the entire country. Also there are a perfect multitude of pheasants that offer beauty-lovers a fascinating view of themselves as the little vari-colored cocks strut and show off their brilliant plumage, while the demure dun-colored little hens shyly admire their lords. Several thousand eggs are hatched each season.