New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-09-16

Question Considered.
Whoever, within few years past has traf-
eled some miles South from White Plains upon the old
rst road to New. York has not failed to observe long
range Of glass houses-foY they are more than thou
sand feet in length-embauked. as it were. into e
shsterng side of the HILL NOT quarter OF mile distant
from the road and two miles south of the village. lie
will look in vain for the castelaed mansion o the pro-
pretor of such extensive grapery Is this before hn
and then he will wonder not little to zee these grea
forcing houses upon place that appears. IN all Other
respects only like the ordinary farms of the country
he sees upon the ridge beyond the graTery nestiook
ing modern cottages but this is simply the residence
the gardener and general superintendent OF the grea
conservatory in view. Little to tie right Of this cot
tags he sees another one; il is the dwelling OF The
farmer Carrying the vision around little further to
the north east lie discovers very unpretendingook-
ing old fashioned country house. butt OF wood nany
yeas ago and Of moderate Dimensions, both in hight
and breadth this IL the residence Of The proprietor
the SPINNER home Of Charles Butler whose Winter one
il in New York City.
Some ten years ago Mr.. Butler. desiring country
home was attracted to this SPOT partly on account Of
its historical "reminiscences. 1t was formerly the home
of Governor Daniel ID. Tompkns and before the Revo-
utionsry War the residence Of an English fox hunting
of8cer-Col Heatbcote-whose estate was confscated.
because he like many Of the old residents Of Westches
ter County adhered firmly to the royal canse.
The estate of Col Heathcote consisted OF 800 acres
and was called Fox Meadow"-a name which MI But
Ter has retained the designation oil his place Whlcn
now consists of l46 acresthe farm first purchased and
seventy acres added on the north from the Travis
Farm and afterward seventy acres from the rear OF
two other farms owned by Mr. Selick nnd Jesse Fisher
and lately sixty 0cres OF the old Varan Farm on
the soutb-makiDg about $50 acres. This brings him
down to lane between his own land and The old farm
Of W. s. Pophau. giving nearly mile front upon the
post road and extending nearly mile westward,
across both the Bronx River and the Harlem Railroad.
q little south Of Harris Corner Station.
Near the Station, there was rickety collection Of old
houses inhabited ouch houses generally are Tbt 80
have been lately bought renovated and made apprOpr
ate habtatOns for farm labOrers noticed that one OF
the number had been converted into very neat chapel
and Sunday school house Two Of the old farm houses
upon the pos road have also been renovated aud made
fit resiGenoes for nteel families who desire 10 retire
TO the country for the summer Indeed they larger
and better than the occupied by the proprietor Of
the estate
When Mr. Butler fret purchased the old Governor
Tompkins place he probably had no intention Of making
the other large additions 10 it, and be probably had no
expectation OF becoming great Wesichester County
farmer His object was Il country home for the Sum-
mer and home for his SON. who had genuine love for
agricultural and horticultural pursuits from which his
collegiate course had weaned him. bni rather given
him increased appetite. 1t WAS he who first planned
and established the great conservatory.
Let us stop here moment ana drop tear Of sympa.
has gone where fruit is ever fresh aud gardens
blooming.
But the father having tasted the sweets OF agricul.
tura improvement goes on Improving with an increas
ing zeal IA the results Of his designs developed
when he purchased this estate it was In the condition
of A thousand other Westohester County farms. The
house was dapidated; the old rookery barn. good for
kindling wood, and not much else the old tumble
down stone walls overgrOwn with briers and bushes
the beautiful forest uDcared for aud consequently
Jungle without roads; streams without bridges, and
fields almost without crops nearly without incloSing
FENCE and quite without gates 10 the several entrances
Between the farmhouse and "tbe bars ut the road
ran little brook OF clear waterOnce trout stream
The house stood upon gentle rise oil ground looking
SOUTH mot twenty rods distant np0n an almost mpene
trAbie swamp OF some ten acres. III TINS swamp the
stream lost among bushes and boys almost IL high
as q mans head between which q twenty.ioot pole
could be thrust without finding bottom 1t was difficult
u drainage, for the outlet was through another mans
and and its bottom was solid rock for many rods.
This swampy prospect might have been very pleasant
% the original proprietor Of Fox Meadow. whose oecn-
alton hunting instead OF blowing; but TO MI Nut
or il eyesore. which be could not endure lie
ad no occasion for the frogs II produced, and had
ostive dislike for the large annual crop Of muskeoes
lie therefore set about dTaiungt sese told him mat
,etveen that and the Bronx River was considerable
all and be finally obtained the c0nsent Of his gab0r
n The south 10 20 npOn his land aud deepen the chan
sl The result L. that where nothing was produced
ut bushes boys and bullfrogs, there IN now goodly
arden OF vines vegetables and various fruits.
The plan OF the garden having been made the lines OF
u The roads walks and alleys excayated deeply
they could be conveniently on account Of water ana
Zen filed four or five feef with broken stone whicn
az covered with clay and gravel. Upon this drained
vsmp there are now lines Of Furnishing fruit trees
"a shrubs and most luxuriant grove o eYergrees IN
ldch are some Of the handsomest Norway spruces
sVe ever seem and the usual assortment OF rich garden
,gstsblss and fruit.
This garden, bordered by the wsll.ned brook. forms
foreground Of the great conservatory; and, as seen
the travellers along the post road. place WORTHY