Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-01-17
NJ | s c L L l. A N Y.
SHAKER FARMING IN KENTUCKY.

The prosperity and thrift which mark this
singular sect, whether located in New Eng
land or the West, is of that quiet, unostenta-
tious and comfortable character which is pleas
ant both 10 witness and 10 read about. The
editor of the Valley Farmer gives an account
of visit he made recently 10 the Society in
Mercer County, Kentucky, from which we
make the following extracts. They certainly
show that farming may be made proftable
Their FARM.-Ths society was established
in 1907. They were extremely poor, &c,
and began farming upon about one hundred
acres of land, They now own about five thou
sand acres, worth from $50 to 500 an acre.
There are five families" and between two
and three hundred members Their dwelling
and out houses are large, commodous and well
built, chiefly Of brick and stone The most of
their land is enclosed and subdivided with sub
stantial stone walls. They have hired one
man for twelve years, who has devoted his
whole time to building this kind of fence, aid
ed from time to time by others. They have
now about forty miles of this wall completed
which cost about $1,000 mile, or SAC, 900 for
the whole.
Their STocK.-The whole number of cattle
upon the farm is about 500 head, mostly full
blood short-horns, some of which are from
the best imported stock in the State. They
ayerape about 40 hood C ..'iicn COWS 10 each
family. The cattle are bred with view TO
the improvement of their milking qualities,
and in this respect we think that breeders gem
orally in Kentucky pay so little regard that
their stock is permanently injured by it,
Their system of feeding is of the most econom-
ica character, and best calculated 10 promote
the growth and sustain the health of the ami
mails. The hay, oats and straw are stored and
cut upon the floor above. Their cutting ma
chimes are of the Sinclair pattern, propelled
by horse power, and will cut a tun of feed in
short time. Their cattle are arranged in stalls
on each side of the barn, with a passage be-
tween. In this passage is railway upon
which is run large box for mixing and deiv-
'erng the food, which is wet with water ap-
piled by pump from cistern Immediately
nnder the passage. The meal which is of corn
and rye, ground fine, is stored above, and is let
down into the box through spout.
They make no calculation on raising grain
beyond the wants of the several families and
their stock In 1855, they harvested from
100 acres, 3l00 bushels. The crop of the
present season is of superior quality, but the
yield was but Is bushels per acre.
FRUIT GRowINo AND PRESERVING constitutes
one of the chief sources OF revenue to this So
ciety. Besides the large amount of APPLES,
peaches, pears and strawberries that are dried
and preserved for their own use, they preserve
large quantities annually for sale. In 1855.
which was fruitful year, they preserved in
sugar, 80 tuns OF different kinds of fruit. The
present year, their leading varieties having
been cut off, the quantity put UP is about Is
iuns, chiefly OF strawberries, raspberres. cher
ries, plums, and plum jelly; nearly half of the
whole is strawberries, and the quantity of these
would have been greatly increased, but for the
severe drought which sci in Just as the fruit
was ripening.
OTHER MATTERs.-In addition to their annu-
al sales OF Durham cattle and preserved fruits,
the society manufacture a large number of
brooms, which from their superior quality and
neainess of finish, find ready sale in our mar.
ket at an advanced price upon the ordinary ar.
ucie' vi me number OF acres in broom corn,
the present year, we did not inquire, hut be-
slueo what they cultivate themselves, thew hire
the neighboring farmers to grow considerable
quantity, and from what we saw, should es,i-
mate The land occupied with this crop at sever
al hundred acres; the present season, the crop
has been considerably cut short for want Of
rain.
They also grow and put up large amount
OF garden seeds, which are sold in Kentucky
and other Southern States. Every family
raise few pounds of silk which they mann
facture exclusively for their own use They
also keep flock of the finest Saxony sheen
the wool of which is conibed and manufactured
into fabrics for family use.
Their houses are furnished with every con.
Senlence calculated 10 reduce the labor of the
various domestic operations. The village i.
supplied with water from large spring abou
half a mile distant, which is forced M into
reservoir and is conveyed in pipes directly tc
every apartment in the premises where it i.
needed Machinery is employed for washing
wringiOs and smoothing clothes, and in The
operations for baking &c, &c.
PUMPKIN AND Squash PiE.-For commo,
family pumpkin pies, three eggs do vorn ,nsi,