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ARTICLE VISIT TO FYKES FARM
"Well, Editor, come to see us again any time. We're going to live right
here as long as we live, and you know they way way now."
With these parting words the Editor motored off from the residence of W. D.
Fyke, with a resolve to have nearly such a home some day. The Chronicle Editor
(once a farmer himself), believes the best place to get acquainted with a farmer
is at the farmers place of business. With this in view he is trying to make at
least one such visit each week. This visit to the Fyke Farm proved to be
an eye-opener. Solid Oak Barn On the tour of inspection the
Editor noticed the solid oak <??> slick where stock had rubbed them since five
years before this Editor ever rubbed his eyes, "What is that white I see through
those logs," was asked of Mr. Fyke. He explained it was his corn crib
lined with galvanized sheeting, to make it rat proof. You see, " said Mr.
Fyke, "I built that barn to last and care for the stock and crops. It
suffered a "stylish shock" when automobile came in. I always have tried to
save what I made, that's why I lined it when the rats got bad. They
never got a single bushel of my corn last winter. 27 Year Old Wagon
Mr. Fyke has always tried to save his implements and vehicles too. Possibly
these evidences of thrift drilled into his very living and habits will account
for the successful farmer-officer that he is making for the Carrollton bank and
other businesses he is connected with. "That wagon over there was bought
in 1894. It is good yet, but Wade, the rascal, he's wore it worse in the last
four years than in its previous history. You see, Editor, everything should be
protected when not being used. It's the little things that count.
Raises Nearly Everything Nothing would do but that the Editor stay for
dinner. Home canned fruit was served. Likewise meat, and fresh
vegetables of various descriptions, milk and honey, Uh My! A stroll in the
garden showed radishes growing eleven inches in circumference and about 13
inches long. "That's nothing," said the host, "my great grandmother took
great delight in gardens. She raised one radish that weighed 150 pounds."
Mr. Fyke is an optimism, quiet in manner and possessing a habit of pulling a
joke on his friends when they least expect it. After the Editor's eye had stuck
out for enough he explained that his great grandmother's name was Radish.
Beautiful Home The large, conveniently arranged, beautifully
furnished home of Mr. and Mrs. Fyke fires one to try to duplicate it. Pipe
from the deep well are run in a coil in the cistern then brought up to different
parts of the home and out building, providing a natural cooling system with no
ice bill. Minnows in every trough and brook insure against mosquitoes with
their chills and annoyances. Shade, peace, plenty. Spending Money
"There is never a surplus of spending money," said he. "Every family
has constantly a rising need, and the thing is to have something bringing in
money at all times of the year." One of Mr. Fyke's side issues that pays
is his apairy. He has 17 hives of bees. These alone will produce 75
pounds of honey each this year. It would produce more but the "bee
pasture" is the "Sheep pasture" too. At 25 cents per pound this will net
him $318.75. To Live and Die Near Carrollton Mr. Fyke says, "
I never have a desire to live elsewhere. For years I have gone to Carrollton for
the ball games on Saturday afternoons. It is just a short drive to Union
Baptist church on Sunday. On any Monday I can run in to the Bank if there is a
board meeting We have our children and their families near us. Mrs.
Fyke chimed in with approval in her good congenial style. As the Editor
and his wife glided over the road back to Carrollton each agreed that prosperity
is not patented and that what other could do we could do, and that Carrollton
was a mighty good place in which to save, strive, live and die, happily.
The Carrollton Chronicle - Friday, July 22, 1921
Submitted by Edward Lynn
Williams
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