Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-09-25
VOL. xxx, NO. 4e.--wHOLE NO. 2Os2.
HENRY cLAY,a EARN.

A correspondent Of the Cleveland Herald thus
describes Mr.. Clay's residence:
The city Of Lexington, adjoining which is Ash
land, is neat and lourishng 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 of this city is Ashland, the farm and home of
Henry Clay. His house is Il handsome and sub
stantial edifce, the main body about forty feet by
Fifty, with wings Of proporionate dimensions. 1t
stands in the midst Of proluson of venerable for
est trees, evergreens and sbrubbery, upon gentle
elevation in tho centre of lot containing about
fifty acres, and is some forty rods from the road
serpentine carriage way leads through the grove
TO the house, and numerous pathways astefnlly ar
ranged benutfy his extensive grounds. His house
/ is plainly but well furnished, containing many
choice and valuable evidences of the respect and
affection of his couDtrymen
Then there is a stone cheose-house and a stone
buiterhouse, Ashland being celebrated for the
quantity and quality Of the butter made thereat.-
His clcken-houso, doye-house, stables, barns, and
sheds, are al in perfect repair spacious, neat, and
in order His fruit and vegetable garden confirms
about tuur acres, and in its arrangement and cult
yatian saw Mrs. Clay giving personal directions
There - also large green-house filed with choice
/ plants ana beautiful flowers.
His negro cottages are exceedingly comfortable
all whiie-washed clean and well furnished, and
PLENTY Of flowers in the windows and about the
! dwellings, His slaves possess more of the com
forts OF life have better dwellings, are better cloth
ell, and work less, than large majority Of the day
laborors of the North have never seen an es
Enlistment IN any country, in all its departments
furnish so many proofs of domestic comfort perma-
nent and useful Arrangement, united with such ex
ceeding good taste and unpretending elegance.
Mr.. Clay's farm contains about 500 acres anC
in ali my wanderngs, including even old New Eng
land, have never seen the same number of acre
in body, as handsome, as productive, as wei
fenced, and as well cultivated. His woodland i
cleared of all under-brlsh and dead wood his
fields are enclosed with good fences with the tol
rails all on, and not weed or brier in the cor
ners-his hemp fields, &C.. are prepared with thu
skill and care of thrifty farmer-and he has tel
acre lot Of corn, upon which he has bestowed ex
ira labor and attention. with the view Of obtainin!
the premium
Then there are his fne-blooded cattle, sheep an
horses, apporoned off in lots, according to age
aud the use and purposes for which they are de
signed. Indeed there is no spot in or about hi
residence or farm that will not furnish evidence o
his being Il thrifty, profitable and practical farnel
True it is that had read and heard much of MI
Clay, as the Farmer Of Ashland" but | regarde
him what Is termed ga gentleman farmer "a
one who had flrm, but knew little and Cared les
how it was cultivated. But let any walk wit
Mr. CLAW over his broad acres notice his intlnat
knowledge of everything pertaining to farming
hear him relate how he prepares and improves hi
lands, changes his crops, improves his Stock am
yearly renders more and more productive ana pro
ftable his extensive plantatonan he will the
see with his own eyes that one Of the best practi
cal and most useful farmers, in this or any othe
country, is Henry Clay, the farmer of Ashland
and he will also see and learn that the best butte
and cheese in the Lexington market are made b
Mrs Clay, the wife Of the farmer Of Ashland"