American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-10-09
HENRY CLAY'S FARM.

A correspondent of the Cleveland Herald
thus describes MIR. Clay's residence
1.-THE city of Lexington, adj joining which is
Ashland, is neat and fiourlshing inland town
Of some eight thousand inhabitants 1t is the
centre of an extensive range of country, second
to no other in fertility, beauty and cultivation,
About one mile east from this city is Ashland,
the iatm and home of Henry Clay. His house
is a handsome and substantial edtice, the main
body about forty feet by fifty, with wings of
proportonate dimensions it stands in the
midst of profIsion of venerable'f forest trees,
ever-greens and shrubhery, upon gentle elcVa-
ton in the centre of lot containing about fifty
acres and is some forty rods from the road. A
serpentlne carrage-way leads through the grove
to the house, and numerous pathways tasteful
ly arranged, heautfy his grounds. His house
is plainly but well furnished, containing many
choice and valuable evidences of the respect
and affection of his countrymen.
Then there is stone cheese house and stone
butterhouse, Ashland being celebrated for the
quantity and quality of the butter made thereat.
His chickenhouse, dove-house, stables, barns
and sheds, are all in perfect repair, spacious,
neat, and in order. His fruit and vegetable
garden contains about four acres, and in its ar
rangement, | saw Mrs. Clay giving personal
directions. There is also large green house,
filled with choice plants and beautiful flowers.
The negro cottages are exceedingly comfort
able, all white washed, clean and well furnish
ed, and plenty of flowers in the windows and
about the dwellings. His slaves possess more
of the comforts Of life, have better dwellings,
are better clothed, and work less than ma or-
ity of the North. have never seen an estab-
llshment in any country, in all its departments,
furnish so many proofs of domestic comfort,
permanent and useful arrangement, united
with such exceeding good taste and unpretend-
ing elegance.
Mr.. Clay's farm contains about 500 acres;
and in all my wanderings, including even New
England, have never seen the same number
of acres in body, as handsome, as productive,
as well fenced, and as we'll cultivated. His
wood is cleared of all underbrush and dead
wood-.hs fields are enclosed with good fences,
with the top rails all on, and not a weed or
brlar in the corners-his hemp-felds, &c., are
prepared with the skill and care of a thrifty
tarmer-and he has ten acre lot of corn, upon
which he has bestowed extra labor and atten-
ton, with the view of obtaining the premium.
Then there are his fine bloodcd cattle, sheep
and horses, apportioned off into lots, according
to age, and the use and p Irposes for which they
are designed. Indeed, there is no spot in or
about his residence or farm that will not furnish
evidence of his being thrifty, profitable end
practical farmer. True it is that had read
and heard much of Mr. Clay, as the "Farmer Of
Ashland" but | regarded Inn as what is term
ed "a gentleman farmer"-as one who had
farm, but knew little and cared less how it was
cultivated. But let any one walk with Mr..
Clay over his broad acres-notice his intimate
knowlede of everything pertaining TO farming
hear him relate how he prepares and improves
his lands, changes his crops, improves his stock,
and yearly renders more and more productive
and profitable his extensive plantation-and he
will then see with his own eyes that one of the
best, practical and most useful farmers, in this
or any other country, is Henry Clay, the farm
er of Ashland, and he will also see and learn
that the best butter and cheese in the Lexing-
ton market are made by Mrs. Clay, the wife of
the "Farmer of Ashland"