The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1855-02-17
David Leavitps Barn in Berkshire County.

Mr., David Leavitt, OF New Iork, recently
boueht farm Of three hundred acres for his
country residence, on the Housatonic river
hardly two miles south of the village of Grea'
Darlington, Berkshire county, Massachusetts,
There may be fifty acres Of it fair intervale
the residue being hiIly upland, In good part
covered with young wood. Here he has bull
him q handsome dwelling and commenced
the systematic improvement OF the arabic
land by draining. subaoiling, &c, under the
direction of Mr.. r. Williamson, whose efforts
for scientific agriculture in Dutchess county
and at Mt Airy, Germantown, Pa, deserve
honorable mention. The expense OF sucf
improvement is largely enhanced by It's nov
city in this region, and the fact that his
draining tile have to be procured from grea
distance. and cost him on the farm thrice
what they should, and what they ultimate )
will cost those who follow in his footsteps
St;U Mr. Leavitt goes ahead, with the ener
py he has eminently displayed in other un
der,akings, and will yet shame some of his
now caviling neighbors into far off and
feeble imitation of his liberality and thor
oughness.
The great feature of his estate, however
is mammoth new barn, over 100 feet from
base ment to observatory, and popularity esti
mated as having cost over $4,000. The
name. however, gives so inadequate an idea
of its capacities and uses, that, having visit
cd it while passing through Great Barring
ton few days ago, we feel impelled TO give
running account OF 1t.
This barn is built across the bed OF small
mill stream which is soon after lost in the
Housa,onic, and which, though largely fed
by springs, is here in such immediate prox-
unity TO the steep Berkshire hills whence il
rapidly desCends, that ii must often be swell
ed TO rigging, desolating mountain torrent
Across this stream a very substantial dam
of cut stone, filled with earth. is thrown
lust above the barn, forming fine fish pond
above, affording good water power, and
supplying water to every part OF the barn
and for every conceivable purpose. The
barn itself we should Judge to be about l5C
feet long by 70 in width, and Gas we have
said) NEARLY 100 feet high.
The basement (of cut stone) is, of course
devoted to manures, which, without waste
and by mechanical arrangements, are precip
itated from the cattle stalls on the next sto
~. This basement has tight stone floor
is elways cool in summer and warm In win
ter. and twenty carts may be driven III al
one end. loaded simultaneously, and driver
ont at another door. No frost ever enters
and the manure is usually removed every
month and applied directly to the land. The
advantage of being able TO work here ir
comfort during the most inclemen: weather
and TO sled out the compost in winter-ta
king a. load TO the upland and bringing back
a load Of cord wood 10 the railroad-is es
termed considerable.
On the next floor are the cattle and horses
including more than so milch COWS, mainly
fine DevOns, with three or four yoke of work
ing oxen and as many teams of horses. Eact
is kept in its place by a long strap buckleo
Ground the neck, but giving each ample free,
dom to lick every part of its body, which Ii
deemed important. Food and drink are Civ
en- TO each in large iron trough or manger
resembling quarter of large potash kettle
with one circular and two square sides- The
water flows within easy reach everywhere
The stalks, roots, &c, are all cut or slicet
before feeding, and are ultimately to be steam
ed in gigantic boiler on the premises. A
the end Of each long row of cow-stalls hang
a large black board, bearing at the left sidC
the number of each stall in perpendicula
column: on horn of the occupant of saiC
stall, corresponding number is impressed
and whenever she has been milked, her pal
is Immediately set in the weigh-scales, th'
weight of milk ascertained and placed oppo
site her number on the black board and, a