Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-10-26
Daniel Webster q Farmer.

Congress, at Mansfield, Mass, where he
owns and culliyates a large farm. The inter
est taken by this distinguished man, in agri-
culture, is we'll known. The latest improve
mcnis in farming, and whatever has reference
to carrying it on in all its branches toward the
highest perfection, have long occupied the
powers of his mind. The following passage
is copied from a correspondence of the \. Y,
Commercial Advertiser
have returned from delightful walk with
farmer Webster. Thousands have seen Mr..
Webster in the apilol, where listening Seul-
tors were hearing the wisdom that fell from
his lips tens OF thousands have heard him at
the bar, demanding justice, eXculpating lnno-
cence, and expoundlng the law hundreds o.
thousands with upturned faces have been
charmed by his eloquence IN popular asselnb-
lies and millions have read his speerhes,
sent by reporters to al parts Of the civilized
world ; but comparatively few have seen and
heard farmer Webster, among hs cattle and
sheep, crops and forests, the products Of his
own care and labor. Whenever he is to speak
Oh any of the above IN ntlOned occasions,
short hand writers are sent 10 take down his
words so that no idea of his may be lost -
Now If cullyators OF the soil should send re-
por,ers to note down what he SAYS touching
their most useful and Indispensable occupation,
whenever he has occasion, they would be en-
rched rs the earth is by ihe overflow lng Of the
Nile. But alas. ul What Use Is 50 nuch Wis
dom TO me IN a chase { fox. or IN shooting
a wOodcOck, or IN angling for trout !
We took good look at the potatoes. II
there is any one crop worthy of attention and
indeed absolutely requiring 1t, Mr.. W ebsler
says, II is the potato crop, aud especially so
when it is liable To that fatal disease By which
it is destroyed IN so many countries. lie has
this season produced 4 large quantity, chiefly
of two kinds the Mercefs and the plnkeyes.--
lie has never had a finer crop lie planted
them early. Many are already harvested, and
all have been ready for the harvest for some
time. They grow to large Sue, with but
few in a hil'. and without auy rot or any APP
pearance of disease. He planted the seed on
light loam soil, which he prepared with a
subsoil plough aud manured with fish called
mauhaden, and with sea weed called help,
taken irom the ocean btarderng on his farm.
! For this crop he useSno barn yard manure,
I for where it Is scattered on the land weeds
will grow. At proper time his men viii
take these potatoes Ia Boston, where their
good quality wni bIlug for them good price.
! We looked at the turnps. lie has one
! field of ten acres, the best he has ever pro-
duced. lie chos s for this crop also hight
soil and excludes from it all barn-yard manure.
! ManuIe fresh from the sea IS exactly the
thing for turuips. All sutculent crops delight
in it, Tomorrow he will show me how and
/ b,y I,l ,lt aa rll nd l. II
! We next looked at a field of five acres Of
bcets, growing by the side Of the turniPs,
in the most luXurant mdhner. llis prepard-
ton for this crop was like that for the poialoc
and turnp, consequently the field is free from
weeds. Alter the seed is once planted he has
nothing to do but wait for the harvest to come.
Mr. Webster has a strict regard to what IS
called rotation in crops, and generally makes
his turnIps and bectS follow crop of wheat
aud oats. These green crops do not exhaust
the soil but ErIng 10 1t as much annually as
they take away.
His corn is growing finely and promises an
abundant harvest aud rs We passed over the
stubhle fields could see that there had been
an extraordinary yield. Mr. Welser remark
ed that ia this respect Mature had been buunti
ful. lis barns are full.
Amorg his cattle he apparently taxes great
delight. lie has imported some Of the finest
breeds in England and Scotland. His Devon
shires, Durhams, and Ayrshires are all noble
specimens. He almost always has some pro-
dIges IN nature. Sometimes an OK, some
times a COW, but this year be has remarka-
bic pair of twin steers, y"arllngs, exactly alike,
an! as large as a common three year old.
His sheep, especially the Souih-downs and
Chevlots. are the finest ever saw, aud | pre-
sumo they are not excelcd by anything IN this
country.
Coming through the lawn, around the fresh
pond near the house, saw large number of
the real Canada geese. He says they feed on
grass and flourish best when left alone, where
they have access to water and Islands beyond
the leap of a fox.