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W. D. KELLY'S FARM
Submitted by:
Sharon M Kouns
Ironton
Register, Thursday, June 17, 1858

We took a stroll, the other day, over the farm of William D.
Kelly, adjoining Ironton, and we were much pleased and interested
with the systematic order everywhere displayed. All its operations
seem to be conducted with energy and skill; and all he parts unite
and harmonize, although an amount and variety of labor is
performed, which very few persons would have as adequate idea of,
without a somewhat minute inspection. One would suppose that his
garden and green house would be sufficient to occupy the
attention, and exhaust the energies of one man, without having
super added thereto the management of a large farm, a flourishing
vineyard, and constantly increasing nursery.
The farm consists
of about 270 acres-not including some 30 acres laid off in lots,
which are not reckoned as farm lands. The whole farm has an air of
freshness and neatness that is perfectly captivating. Good fences,
neatly built, free from brush and briars - crops well put in, and
cultivated with care - orchards suitably arranged and neatly
pruned - nice farm house, well set off with shade and ornamental
trees and shrubbery - commodious barns and stables - in fine, the
whole farm presents a picture such as the eye loves to dwell upon.
Mr. Kelly has 35
acres of growing wheat, which gives high promise of an excellent
yield. We think it the best wheat we have seen this season, the
white, beardless variety. He has some 70 acres in grass - the
greater portion being heavy and well set; but we noticed portions
here and there where scarcely anything but high weeds was to be
seen. In these places Mr. Kelly tells us the grass dried out after
mowing it last season - perhaps from upheaval of the soil. He has
three acres of sweet potatoes, that give promise of a fine crop,
and eight acres of oats that look well. He has 30 acres of corn
planted, but the season has been so wet and unfavorable thus far,
that it does not give promise of an abundant crop; nevertheless,
there is yet time, should the season prove favorable hereafter,
for it to recover. Mr. K. raises no Irish potatoes except for
family use.
Mr. Kelly is
preparing to go into orcharding quite extensively. He has already
2,500 apple trees planted out, a large portion of them already in
bearing, consisting of such varieties as experience has shown to
be best adapted to this climate - embracing summer, fall, and
winter fruit. We notice that the bearing trees have a pretty full
crop. He has also 3,500 peach trees, embracing all the choicest
varieties of the country. He has been at much pains in selecting
his trees from the best nurseries. He has quite a number of peach
trees of the more common fruit of the country; and we noticed that
these trees were well loaded, while but very few of his choice
selections escaped the late frosts. Should not this serve as a
hint to fruit-growers? Should not more attention be paid to the
improvement and cultivation of such varieties as experience shows
most capable of resisting the influence of the late spring frosts,
which are becoming of such frequent occurrence in our locality?
We visited the spot
where Mr. Kelly is building his new house, on the highest point of
the ridge just back of town. And here we behold one of the
pleasantest sights we have looked upon for a long time. Standing
on the site of the house and casting your eye along on either side
of the ridge, to the point where it slopes down to the plain, you
take in the whole outline of the farm - skirted by the forest on
the one side, and the river and town on the other. The whole seems
like a map spread out at your feet. Below you, on one side, are
his vineyard, and apple and peach orchard extending down the
slopes of two contiguous ridges to the bottom of the valley
between, and stretching on until they open into the plain; the
other side, ranging the whole length of the ridge is a growth of
timber, beyond which are checkered fields of growing corn, and
waving grain, and tall meadow grass, and pasture lands, with here
and there a clump of trees, swaying to the breeze. From this point
the surrounding country is visible on both sides of the river, for
several miles in extent. With one sweep of the eye, you take in
Ashland, Ky., Ironton, Hanging Rock, and stretching the gaze,
Greenupsburg, is distinctly seen looming up from the mist of the
river, like Phoenix, rising from the ashes. Mr. Kelly proposes to
run up a small observatory here from the top of the house, which
will greatly extend the range of vision, and add vastly no doubt
to the interest of the scene.
We noticed some
choice evergreens, set out by Mr. Kelly, whose beauty was sadly
marred by some pilfering hands. This is a mean practice, breaking
down shrubbery, although it may be done thoughtlessly. Mr. Kelly
welcomes visitors, but reasonably request they will not destroy
the fruits of his labors.
We were much
interested in examining Mr. Kelly’s apiary, and noting the various
ingredients resorted to, to protect his bees from the ravages of
the miller. Mr. Kelly has at present 50 stands of bees, and he has
tested every plan, from the old bee gum, up, through the different
patents that have been brought into notice, in all their various
forms, and has finally adopted one of his own, unlike any other
which he had seen, and which comes nearest affording immunity to
its industrious occupants against their common enemy. It does not
afford complete protection, and Mr. K. is confident that no
invention ever will; nevertheless, he meets with great success in
his "bee palace." He arranges the hive or "bee-room" so as to have
two compartments, one where the bees shall deposit their "bread"
and rear their young, and the other for storing of honey. This he
makes by inserting a box capable of hold 16 pounds of honey in the
comb, and so constructed as to be most convenient for the bees to
guard it against intrusion from the miller. - The arrangement is
such that he can frequently inspect the operations of the little
community, and lend a helping hand, if their enemies are likely to
prove an over match for them. Mr. K. thinks his present plan a
decided success.

FOOTNOTE: William Dollarhide Kelly was
one of the founders of the city of Ironton.
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