Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1869-01-08
Sgtitultural.


ton, Il. q, name fast becoming familiar to
every lover Of fine stock the world over, ioT
he If better known in England than in Yer
mont, for his persistent endeavors to secure
the best living farm animals, regardless Of
cost. At the Provincial Fair at Montreal
where he was awarded for his services to Ag-
riculture gold medal. besides twenty seven
others, mostly silver. and numerous lesser
prizes on his animals-we renewed our ac-
quaintance with him, and conditionally ac-
cepted an invitation't to visit his farm at some
convenient time. The Journal of the New
York State Agricultural Society announced
the fact that in competition with all the en-
inent breeders Of that State and upon, their
own ground too, Mr.. COchrane had won the
Soeiety's large gold medal for the best herd
of sbOrthorHs, and seven Of the seventeen
prizes awarded to single animals Of this
breed. The committee, consisting of eminent
breeders of this class of animals. applied the
society's scale of 1000 points to all the ami
mails examined by them. and five of Mr..
Cochrane's made the unprecedented run. of
9S3, $50, 81, 900, and 95l points, while the
most points awarded any other animal were
1856. In the class for Herefords he was
awarded the large gold medal for the best
herd, first four prizes, and the following COM
plimentary notice 'The herd Of Herefords
exhibited by NJ. II. Cochrane, Compton,
Quebec, were all animals of very superior
quality. The bull, Compton Lad, - we con-
slider the best bull Of his class ever shown in
this State" The Journal also shows that he
won seven first prizes on his long wool sheep,
and honorable mention for his middle woods
Oxford Downs-there being no award in
tins class for want Of competition. Among
the well known names Of those whose pur-
chases from Mr.. Coehrane have from time to
time been announced in the newspapers we
at this moment recall William Crozier Of
Northport, L. l., formerly the well known
proprietor Of the Chappequonsett Farm at
Newport, r. l.. Geo. V. Hoyle of Champ
lain, \. Y; Byron LOOMS Of Sufield.
Conn. Hon. Harley NJ. Hall Of East
Burke, Vt. j. ". " adsworth Of Genessee,
n. Y. J. Mclaughlin of Peacham, Vt,
and many others in more remote districts,
men whose well established reputation as
breeders gives assurance that they found at
Mr. Cochrane's, animals of the best quality
in their respective classes.
All these facts and many more we had ac-
quired in regard to Mr.. Cochrane's animals
at second hand: and as we were daily beset
with questions more especially in regard to
pure bred long wool sheep, which We could
not well answer, we determined no longer to
defer our contemplated visit to - Iiillhurst.'
the farm of Mr. Cochrane. This place is
about three miles from Compton station on
the eastern division Of the Grand Trunk
railwayof Canada, ia miles from Montreal.
The farm consists Of $50 acres, situated on
an elevated ridge of most excellent land,
which was originally covered with a heavy
growth Of naples, to the almost total oxclu-
ing three different roads, and made up Of sew
eral small farms, which as is customary had
been cleared up along the highway. leaving
the uncleared portion at the rear, 50 that in
this case the woodland occupies the center Of .
the farm. A small portion Of this central
tract is oyergrown with cedar and ash,
enough, if properly husbanded, for fencing
purposes during all time. Thee are on the +
farm three very fine sugar orchards fitted, up
in the best style and cleared of all underbush.
For twoof these the corey eyaporator's, made
by the Hartford Sorghum Co., Of Bellows
Falls, Vt, the ne pins ultra of sugar appar-
ltus, have been ordered. Thetaun buildings
ire all new or lately oyerhauled. and well
adapted TO the economical Carrying on Of the
business of the farm. One barn, adapted to
The fattening of forty bullocks, has twelve
ieet of basement divided into manure vaults
md root cellars. 1t is not however in use this
year, as the prices of hay, grain. and beef do
rot warrant the proprietor in feeding, not
he is willing to do 50 when he
AN see his way clear to get his money back,
eaving him only profit Of the manure made
n the operation. The crops raised are such
Is are best adapted to the feeding of stock.
rurnips are a speciality, 10000 bushels being
he average crop.
Mr. Cochrane is native Of this town, and
prominent idea with him on going into the
business of farming is to illustrate to his old
leighbors the practicability of making high
arming, with liberal investment Of capital,
,ay. At first he kept dairy, and he and his
business partner, who also owned farm ad-
dining his, built cheese factory, the product
f which acquired very high reputation in
he English market. But he was not salts
led with dairy farming. One great draw
,ack upon his success was the difficulty ez-
in finding cows Of uniform quail
ty. This and other considerations induced
lin TO take up the business Of breeding. His
experience in determining the character of
lis stock and in getting it together, would af
ord matter for volume as interesting as a
omanee. In this business he has been aided ,
" the best advice to be obtained. Although
e has never publicly exhibited his most val a
liable animals, deeming the risk too great, c
be results of such exhibitions as he has
iadc indicate very clearly that whatever of $
,il and tribulation he may have experienced
n the operation, he has his reward in the ac-
movie dgement, both private and official, Of
lie best judges, that he has got together the
ory best lot of animals on this continent.
mong the shorthorns Of superior excellence
e may name 'Dutchess' 81, yearling beifer
T which he paid 1000 guineas in England
,osedale, of world wide celebrity having won
or $500 in prizes, besides numerous cups P
ID smaller prizes IN the British show yards
aid of Braithwaite, Wild Eyes, Maid of "
tina, llth Duke of Thorndale, pure Bates tr
III; Baron Booth of Lancaster, pure Booth. u
ut We cannot stop to particularize, suffice it Jc
say, there is a large herd Of them, the pre- m
,e number of which we do not recollect, ~
d there are more coming four pure Booth ~ ~
finals being expected by the steamer which m.
led from Liverpool the 18th inst. Va
Of long wool sheep he has imported over Nc
D, and the best evidence of their merit is
1t the best long wool breeders in this coun- So
are very anxious to buy them. The first for
re . years old Cotswold ram weighs 375 NJ n
=. yearling weighs 3l5 lbs, one pen of va
e ewes average 800 lbs. each, and two eve 4
nbs at weeks old weighed 90 lbs Poi
The Oxford Downs, which were first prize rec
mals at the Royal Agricultural Society Of lea Is
glands show, are very superior animals, the WI
n weighing SEQ lbs and the ewes averag- an5
PCS lbs. ira "a
I is Mr.. Cochrane's intention TO make an pre-
ton
er considerable importation of Cotswold 7