Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-03-22
From the Boston Transcript.
GREATEST FARM IN ENGLAND.

This place is renowned throughout England ut
least aud especially as the farm OF Old Mr.. Coke,
the father of the farmers Of Norfolk, and am
happy, therefore, TO have enjoyed excellent
opportunity of seeing the estate. shall not prob
ably find in Great Britain better specimen either
OF the style of life Of Il good old country gcBile
man of this realm, aud ntthe ancient school, or Of
the management of a first rate practical proprie-
tors estate. Let me begin 10y giving you some
idea Of the latter, promising that this is the same
Mr.. Coke who moved in the House of Commons
the dscontnuance of the American war of '75;
and who, having carried it in the great and excit-
ed body by majority If one, was himself, at the
suggestions OF his friend, MIR. Fox ut the head OF
the committee to make up an address to Ills ma
jesty, GeO:ge III. III pursuance OF the vote. This
he did in his farmers Dress with his white top
boots and Irock on, for iEis was the custom. Eve
nv American must respect the old gentleman for
his achievement, and they vii! not like him less
to know that, every day at his table, during that
barbarous war, he was accustomed, as he now
declares. to drink the health of Gen. w ashingron.
as The greatest man IN existence. TINS liberal
spirit has always distinguished Mr.. Coke and he
began his career in Parliament with Tie war itself
und remained IN il nearly six years. Were he
still II member which his age (S2) now prevents,
he would be by muny years, " the Father of the
House"
Wei, now to the estate and first merely as
farmers The land here is about $500 acies
l
wall, extending about a circuit Of ten miles. This
comprises the plantation of wood and n beautiful
lake. Nothing could appear more originally ru-
raj than its borders, which are completely over
Swallowed with forests, and as wild altogether as
i'll had discovered them and the lake itself in the
depths of some solitude in Michigan. All the
woods have been planted. The estate is plenti-
fully sprnked with various species of trees, in
acres Of forests and avenues Instead of park
in one body, it is as one wants it-every where an
ornament and Il sheller-oyer hill and dale--but
no where in excess nor yet in the way Of the far
mer. Immediately around the mansion, indeed,
are only gardens, walks, and wide extent OF
velvet lawn on every side; but even these latter
are marked w'h their own schemes of practical
utility 1t is not only the pheasant | see shutting
about there in l.e cool shades. 1t is not alone the
the graceful deer that browse and bound along
those soft lawns. These are charms TO the eye
and like the taste which allows them this sweet
free range, and which saves the poor beautiful
creatures from all harm. Here are the woods ton
As rode through their long winding lanes to-day
on horseback, the air was filled with the perfume
of the forest flowers. and with the chipping and
fluttering of birds.
The remoter lawns are spotted with little hock'
ofsheep, of which over three thousand are kept OF
the place, of the famous south Devon breed. One
meets also in the pastures these fine sleek, bright
looking Devon Cattle, browsing in herbs. There
are more than three hundred of them, includin,
an immense dairy besides OF Scotch cattle. BE
yond the lawns, one gets at once INTO the cultya
ion and u ring Of this, skrted and sheltered herr
and there with avenues and copses of trees, Ell
circng the whole estate. rode uong the edg
of the field OF one hundred aud thirty acres o
barley in one place. In another were sixty acre
of wheat; and there were two fields OF peas
twenty-five and twenty acres. The arab
land is divided about equally between these grain,
turnips and grass, which four crops, sometime
having grass for TWO Seasons, constitute the ron
tine Of the Succession Of lage on the ST M
ground. There are in cultivation at present abCil
four hundred and thirty acres of wheat aud bar
ley each, and in fine conditions. The head farm
er told me, that thirty bushels is rather al
Indifferent crop, aud that forty or fifty are NOR
"lhe right thing" IL must he borne in min
when say this, that iolklam las been complete
Nv made over 10y Mr. Coke. When he succeede
10 The estate it was hut II mere desert. There wer
no trees here even, ard il was hardly believed til
land would let them grow. Mr.. Coke says I'll
rabbits were The only creatures that would live o
it, aud they were starving Now what trump
is this Go with me 10 day in this village
Hickman, which all belongs 10 the estate, an
lives by il in one way or another Here are Ii,
hundred PERSONS probably, besides those sent OF
well provided for elsewhere. Their cottages a
q curiosity OF rural ncalness and comfort. Lit
qardeus around them, and flowers hang out Of ii
windows and climb over the door ways.
Some $50 persons arc employed on the lar
alone. Then in the gardens, The light acres
which are surrounded with Il wall l4U0 yar'
long, and Ia feet high, are perhaps forty more
in The brick yard 40; in the backsmls 10; al
some wheelwrglts aud game keepers, dare sa
aud n lille army of servants OF course; for IN Il
mansion when HE family nre here, ~ females
lone are employed The women DO some woi
also ON The farm; such wedding Tie graz
which, us well as the peas, is drilled | saw
; fold lvppdinu HpxOud tlQt. III
outside of the walls of the regular estate we can
toa"I lille biz of plantation of only 600 moi
Here they were hard at work, IN one fiel
where turnils were sowed, all the processes we
on at once. There wero twenty men and DO
spreading out manure out OF five or six car
drawn by three horses each (of which there
hundred on the place. five or six ploughs, dra"
iron rollers 10y two three or four barrows by oil
lrill nlncllinna snlE llo.,.llLinn Lv al