The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1868-04-09
A Remarkable Farm.

4 II
singular system of management pursued
! by its owner:- n
Near the conveyance of Berks, Ian
caster and Lebanon counties, there is To-
Gated farm, owned by certain John
| Texter, so situated as to be but little fire.
quented, and which for years has been
| topic of conversation in the neighboring
country for miles around. For long
time We had entertained desire to visit
this remarkable farm, in order to verify
the numerous statements we had heard,
and, accordingly, on Tuesday We proceed
ed thither After quite diversified
sleigh ride of some five miles, the latter
two of which extends through epen fields
and commons belonging to the farm in
question, and encounterIng numerous, al
most impossible snow. drifts, we reached
our destination. Entering the house we
were welcomed by the owner, Mr.. Tex
ter, and, after making the object of our
visit known, We were led by him to his
stables. Inquiring of him as to the pre-
sent extent Of his stock, he replied that
he did not know himself" but request
ed US to take an inventory, which we
give herewith.
In the first we noticed two work horses
and seven fat beeves, while in the stall
adjoining were two working horses and
FIVE three-year old colts Several of the
latter were magnificent creatures, one es-
pecially eliciting our admiration. In the
rear of this last stall we were shown a
pen, about eight by ten feet in size, in
which were crowded six yearling colts.
Leaving these stables we were taken to
the barn, a substantial stone building,
over one hundred feet long In the first
stable We found eight working horses,
one of which, Morgan horse four years
old, was superior animal in every re-
spect.
In the next stable there were seven
cows, one heifer and nine calves In the
next were twenty two two year old heifers
and steers. In the next stable were
thirty-six heifers and steers, fourteen
two-year olds ranged on one side, and
twenty-five yearlings on the other. In
the next stall were ten calves nine months
old, and nine fat oxen four years DID,
The latter were in excellent condition,
from seven hundred to one thousand
pounds apiece when killed and dressed
In the next stall were eleven cows, six
calves and one sheep; and in the next,
two fine white mares.
Leaving the barn We were conducted
to another separate stable, in which we
found, huddled together and united,
eighteen colts two years old, of every
color
We then proceeded to yard adjoining
the barn, and surrounded by a number
Of stacks and row of sheds, in which
were confined thirty -four steers and heif-
ers of various ages. These are quartered
in this enclosure the entire winter, hav-
ing no other shelter save the sheds men,
toned
We were also shown four very fat hogs,
intended for slaughtering, perched upon
the backs of which were number of
chickens, apparently well contented with
their warm roost. The remainder of his
hogs, fifteen in number, are kept during
winter in field, half mile distant from
the barn, and having for shelter pen
constructed like collier's hut. In here
they crowd together at nights, and man.
age to keep each other warm. The above
comprises the whole stock, which adds
up as follows: : Horses, IA; colts, 40;
cows, II; beeves, l09; calves, 10; hogs,
10; sheep, = making sum total of
215 head.
These figures are less than the general
average amount of stock, as we were told by
Mr.. Texter that he had lately disposed Of
a number of horses, steers, ETC., aud has
not yet commenced his usual spring pur-
chases. His average amount of stock
may safely be estimated at three hundred
head. He supplies himself, for future
raising, with from forty five to fifty calves
every spring, which he obtains from
neighboring farmers. Although possess
ing admirable facilities for raising sheep,
he never keeps many, and happens at
present to have but one. All of his cat
tie, as seen by US, appeared to be in ex-
cellent condition. 0
The help provided for the supervision
and care of so many animals seems to be
very insufficient. While going through
the stables we met a young girl engaged
in feeding, and we were told that this
girl had charge of one hundred head.
She does but little other work, and is oc-
cupied the greater part of the afternoon
in completing her evening feeding.
The farm appeared to be well supplied
with hay. grain, etc., while adjoing the
barn were number of stacks, as follows
Fourteen OF wheat, four of hay, aud four
of corn fodder. All these were much
larger than ordinary stacks, two of the
hay stacks being at least sixty feet long.
We were told by Mr.. Texter that he had
threshed some ten stacks of wheat, and
that he had number of other stacks at
different places on his farm.
Poultry appeared to be very plenty up
on the premises. Chickens everywhere