New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-06-14
GRF Ar SALE OF BLOOD CATTLE
From the Herd Of r. A. Alexander,
x wooDFoRD COUNTY, KENTUCKY.


abb u 9hI h-c, Win DC 4Ifeft-lel % Know nc
result Of the i:h annual sale OF thoroughbred short
horns which was held a, his famous place on Weines
dsy, the lsi .u1. NJ. K. Aitcheson Alexander IS
enrhsicsIy the mos. prominent. and, perhaps, the
most successful breeder N Kentucky. Living IN
Woodfori County, in the very hear: OF The famous
bluegrass region, with al the OF wealth
a, his command, thorough practical sEd .hzore:.-
cal knowledge OF breeding, and hearty love jr the
pursuit, he has made sucl good use Of these sdvsn.
iages 10 have attained the very forem)s, rank. As
We remarked IL former article the Woodburl
nerd by lar outnumbers tina. of Samuel Taorne, buc
The large number Of expensive Dukes Duchesses ar
Oxiords owned by the later gentleman, brings ,he
average value OF his animals up 20 twice ma, OF Mr..
Asxanders. The Wooiburn herd, in spite o! ann IA!
sales a auc,on and otherwise, has considerably IL
creased within eighteen months, there having been on
the pace on me evening o! Tuesday las. so head
OF bIooded eatle Whereas q, the tine Q. our former
visit, there we're about 100 less.
Arrived e: Lexington, Ky. we found :he IL
terest' IN the approaching sale great that
me asures had been taken by the Lexington and Louis
vile Railroad Company 70 run special train 20 con-
vey persons 20 snd from the farm; an opportunity
.ha. sveilei OF by nearly 400 gentlemen large
part Of them directly engaged in the breeding OF stock
Inc country from Lexington 10 the Alexander
farm is one OF the mos, fertile tracts IN The State
The expectations OF Strangers 70 the beauty OF tns
woodland bluegrass pastures are here fully realized
and seeing them stretching on either side Ike some
extensive English Park, adorned by groups of ele
CANT shorthorns, either moving slowly they Craze
reposing in the shade in lazy contentmen. one
feels as ii be could ssy, with she Queen OF Sheba
Mine eyes nave seen it, and behold, the one.haf
twas no; told me-" Alternating with the wood pas
lures extensive fields Of corn, wheat and hemp,
former looking healthy and veil forward bu. the a,
ter not good they would have done if more fire.
quen, showers had fallen in the early part of the season.
Until Monday last there had been no rain OF conse-
quence in central Kentucky for shout six weeks and
the crops had begun 20 show the want OF il very
plainly. Now the prospects are very cheering FOR an
abundant harvest. Throughout Ohio and Pennsyva-
MA corn is up and dressed on. foT the frs. time and
farmers are still planting and blowing more land.
Wnea. is looking remarkably WELL and 80 far appear
ances indicate that il has received 10 injury from
Winter freezing or other causes.
The sol throughout Kentucky rests on q stra.ihed
limestone coming in places 10 within three inches OF
the surface, which makes it hold so much heat
that the surface soil becomes quickly parched in
dry weather. Throughout the central tier Of
counties and from Louisville to Lexington, and
thence ss far as Mason, which is the best por-
tons OF the bluegrass region the surface soil will
average twenty inches in depth. The limestone sub
soil is porous and offers but little impeiiment to ne
downward passage of water that the reed Tor
drainage Is but little felt We are told that thsre
not probably one hundred rods OF tile drain laid IN the
whole State.
On seeing the bluegrass for the frs. time
struck with ts marked resemblance to own June
grass which is held in such low estimation throughout
the Eastern States, from its small burden OF hay.
On inquiring OF intelligent Eastern men who were
present at the sale, We found that they unani-
nous in the belief that the bluegrass and June-grass
are identical, its superior value in Kentucky
being DUE perhaps, 20 moist and temperate Winters,
and possibly to local pecuarities Of soil II may be
that the chemical composition of The grass Is different
in the two sections that of the phosphates or
nitrogen exist in it in the than in the other but be
this il may, 90 the conclusion that, If rot
exactly similar, they resemble each other so closely
that our Eastern men should rather ascrbe the
rapid growth of cattle in Kentucky, and the less cost
OF their production TO the different length and sever
ity of the Winter than 70 the fs'tenng properties Of
bluegrass alone. The grass is thicky set with white
clover which itself is most nutritious pasture for
cattle.
"Woodburn Farm" the seat of Mr.. Alexander, is
On the old Lexington and Frankfort Road, IL miles
from the former and miles from the latter place and
is adjacent TO Spring Station. The place comprises
something over 2G00 acres, most of il gentle rolling
and of great natural fertility, and well warered by
arge springs. Land Throughout; Wooiford County is
worth on an average $50 but where great improve
ments have been made the price would be consider
bly, higher.
The sale was held in grove a. short distance
from the house, and the scene presented while the
suction was at lis hight almost peculiar 20
A rope stretched from posts 30 as TO
om a large circle kept the crowd g: a suitable die.
ance from the stock, and the negro grooms could
display their charge to best advantage. In the crowd
hat was gathered abou, the ring could be m,ny
gray-haired veteran, whose keen unblencbng eye,
erect form, and independent bearing recalled the
memory OF those pioneer fathers who had conquered
hese beautiful lands from the red ard wild beasts.
Scores of saddle horses and harness horses tied 20
limbs ard trunks Of trees al about groups Of persons
stigued with standing or no. greatly interested in The
ale lying stretched their backs in the deep shade
II some great tree snd conversing together Oh Stock
politics, and farming Unfortunately; lines Of young
md old stock male and female tied TO posts short
way off, waiting TO enter the ring in their turn,
quietly chewing their euds after having been struck
f. in ignorance of their change Of masters negroes
# al ages on the outskirts Of the crowd, much in
crested in the sale any others the ground, and
Watching the energetic auctioneer with eyes OF won-
er amazed that the human tongue could utter
sosis so sonorous in such headlong haste; here |
nd there little darkes playing tag, or turning
nersets in some out-oi-the-wsy place where they |
you'd Eot disturb their betters the twltter OF birds
the trees over head heard the voice Of the
spots of black shadow patches of |