Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1868-10-23
The Farm of MIR. Bancroft.

To large number of our readers in this
section and vicinity, is something of a
farmer as well as manufacturer and
merchant, as we judge by an article
which we find in a New York paper
Mr.. Bancroft's farm is beautifully situa-
ted among the lakes of New Jersey, on
which he has extensive ore beds and
iron works from which iron equal to the
best Swedish is daily forged. Charlottes-
burg is the name of this magnificent es-
tate and it embraces some 2000 acres of
meadow, wood and hill land.
The noble Pequannock River flows in
a circle around half the farm, spreading
in one place into a wide lake filled with
pickerel, catfish and perch, and then
rushes down magnificent fall to turn
the wheels of the saw and grist mill.
The writer continues: The " scenery is
so beautiful that one is apt to forget the
prosaic part of farming; but let us lis
ten to the sage and sedate Mr.. Lyon,
who superintends so ably the workings
of the estate. Three hundred acres are
under cultivation, producing some 300
tons of hay, 1000 bushels of corn, and
other grains. 1t is more Of stock than a
grain farm, and the object is to consume
most of the production on the place, send
ing it to market in the shape of fat beeves
and fine horses, the manure being care
fully prepared for the benefit of the new
land, for 100 acres are being yearly clear
ed and added to the cultivated portion.
The soil is kind" and strong, and only
needs this fertilizer to yield its two tons
of grass to the acre. But as | am not
writing for an agricultural paper, | will
omit the process of cultivation, the
grange" and the mules, horses, and
sheep, and merely speak of the home
stead A substantial mansion, with its
groves of trees, is the home of the Super
intendent, and stretching for quarter
of mile on each side, are the neat
houses of the tenantry, standing back
from straight, wide avenue-every
house having its plot of ground to cult
vate. A wagon shop keeps vehicles in
order, and manufactures farm-wagons,
etc. The blacksmith has constant work
from the farm and the neighbors. The
saw-mill is busily at work turning out
boards for fencing and new barn which
the increasing crops has caused Mr..
Bancroft to build. 1t will be a rival of
the David Leavitt Darlington one, and
is about ninty feet long by ffty-four
feet wide, and three stories in hight, two
stories being of stone. Water from the
race will fill every trough in the stalls by
simply turninga cock. These" Improve
ments," and the necessary work of farm
and forge, give employment to large
number of families. forget the number,
for / had too much to see and hear.
wish / was there now sitting under
the trees, watching the shadows of the
clouds chasing over the hill, giving an
appreciative thought to the noble pines
that here and there stood grandly alone
in some rocky fastness, and listening to
the quaint talk of thoughtful Lyon tell
ing of his Sunday-schools, singing-class
and meetings, of the improvement Of the
human estate under his charge, and OF
theunacknowledged docillity of the mules.
If my friend Porter, of the Country Gen
tleman, will only extend his editorial tour
to this locality l can promise him a
theme worthy of his pen in describing
this estate, while explore Lake Hopal-
cong, Green Pond and the other lakes
that lie within an hours drive.
Every effort is being made to make
this productive and profitable farm,
and to make every laborer better and
wiser man. Unconsciously the owner is
publishing the autobiography Of an ener-
getic cuisines" man, and warm, ben
evolent heart. The work will tell its
own story and it is no fattery to read it
aloud"
l,,4 IL