Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-07-15
A RAMBLE IN CONNECTICUT.

We have just returned from a journey in
Connecticut, through the counties of Wind
ham, Toland, Hartford and New Haven,
Conn. We were exceedingly pleased with
the apparent industry, comfort, ard compe-
tence, which prevailed wherever we went.
There appears 10 be marked equality among
the people, both i'll their exterior circum-
stances and in their intelligence. We have
never Travelled ain equal distance in Massachu-
sets without meeting with IL far greater d.
versity, both in the material comforts and in.
teectual requirements of the people The
people whom we met were respectful and po-
lite, and appeared disposed to impart all de-
| sired information and bestow every attention
needed.
Farmers were everywhere busy gathering
their hay and grain, or cultivating their corn
and potatoes. The hay crop will be greater
than general average. AN immense amount
of hay has been put in barns the past week.
We saw no very large farmers. Four men
was tie greatest number we saw moving in
one field. We saw more than dozen NOW
ing machines in operation ON the route. These
were drawn mostly by horses, but in two or
three cases by oxen. The farmers seem to he
well satisfied with these labor saving instru-
ments. The hay is slowed away in good
barns, generally, but we were surprised to find
the barns almost universally without cellars.
With us, Il good barn cellar is considered al
most indispensable 10 successful agriculture.
We saw no better farms, or abundant crops,
than we observed i'll Woodstock Here the
moving and pasturage lands very nearly re
semble the better parts Of Worcester county.
There ale many good farms in Vernon, Toll
land and Woodbridge. The latter town adj
joins West Haven, contains much excellent
land, which, under high state OF cultivation,
would produce abu ;dant crops OF hay, grain
and vegetables. Farms can be bought here on
reasonable terms, and its proximity TO New
| Haven would render it most desirable posi-
ton for an intelligent farmer. In Tollaud,
| there is much good land, especially in the val
lies. But the farms generally are not highly
cultivated. The center Of Toand is suscept.
IDLE OF being made very beautiful place
The main street is very destitute of Shade
trees Several years ago, the street was lined
by TWO rows OF thrifty elms, but some wretch
who deserved home i'll the county Jail which
| stands here, glrded and destroyed all but five
or SIX OF these promising trees, and their place
| has never been supplied.
| Corn and potatoes are looking finely wher-
ever we went, and they are somewhat more
advanced than with us. The fields are per
fectiy Tree irom weeds, showing that they have
been cultivated both timely and thoroughly.
Many fields OF potatoes are in Iul blossom
vi this nutritious vegetable, an unusual guam
tity has been planted this year. Oats are also
looking finely. We saw immense numbers of
rye fields. Connecticut produces more rye
than any other New England state, and almost
as much AS any Two together. good part Of
the rye i'll the vicinity of Hartford and New
Haven has either been cut or is ripe for the
reaper. We saw two adjoining fields OF rye
near Hartford, each containing ten acres or
more. But in the vicinity OF Hartford the rye
suffered very great damage from the hail few
weeks since.
| Fruit and berries will be very scanty this
season Cherry trees are looking better than
| with us, but are producing no fruit Peach
| trees, as with us, "are going the way OF all
! the earth. we noticed a great scarcity of
pear trees, tho gh the trees we saw show that
the soil is adapted to their growth.
| On our journey we passed through the vii
| lage of North Ashford, where there is a
small meeting house and four or five dwelling
| houses We tarried short time with Mr. q.
N. Allen. He is a man fifty years of age, so.
ciable and Intelligent, and apparently content
| ed. he was born within few yards of his
present residence, and, with the exception of
four years when young man, has always
| lived here. He has kept store and been post.
master in North Ashford for twenty.nine
years Though living in a very small and
somewhat obscure place, he has surrounded
| himself with an unusual number of the COM
| forts and luxuries OF life. His buildings are
ample, in good repair, convenient, and finely
| surrounded with VARIETY OF shade trees. He
| informed us that he has thousand acres of
land, five hundred being woodland. He has
an orchard of five hundred selected fruit trees,
nine years from the nursery, looking as Thrift.
| ty and promising any equal number of
fruit trees TO be found in Worcester county.
He loves his native SOIL and his love has been
growing with his growth. and Strengthening
with his strength"
North Ashford is in the town of Eastforf
The inhabitants are proud in claiming Gen
| Lyon and the present speaker of the house of
| representatives, the Hon. Mr.. Grow, as ma
tives of this town. Yours &C., LIS.