The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-06-14
agricultural department.
CONDUCTED BY ALBERT CHAPMAN
The Breeding Farms at Cream Hill.

The Breeding Farms at Cream Hill.
We made short call last week on A.
Q. Harris. Esq, at the stock farms and
breeding establishment of Messrs. Bates
Il Harris, at Cream Hill, Shorcham, VT,
and give below few facts, that our rea-
ders may judge somewhat Of the amount
of business being done at this establish
ment, and the influence being exerted
for the improvement of our horses by the
enterprise Of these gentlemen.
The lands belonging to this establish
ment are embraced in two farms. that
together contain 10 acres Of the very
best of lands for grazing and grass grow
ing. They also lease lands adjoining, to
to the amount of 1856 acres, the 10 not
being sufficient to maintain all the stock
they have been obliged to keep to carry
on their breeding operations for them
selves and others.
Although sheep have been no inconsid-
cradle item of interest and profit at this
establishment, the main interest at this
time consists in breeding and rearing of
horses.
AT the present time some l13 head of
horses, Of different ages, large portion
of them belonging to parties living in
Massachusetts, New York. and perhaps
other States, are on the place.
1t is at this time we'll worth visit
from long distance to look over the
many representatives Of nearly all stocks
or families Of horses to be found here
Nearly all the most celebrated sires Of
trotting stock are here represented by
some Of their progeny.
There are at present, So brood mares
from abroad to be found under the care of
Mr.. Harris.
There must be some powerful attrac-
ton that brings so many good mares to
Cream Hill, and keeps so many of them
here year after year, with their progeny.
In the first place Mr.. Harris has proved
to be a master in his business of breeding
and raising horses, and his reputation in
this line has been on the increase until he
has this large and constantly increasing
business on his hands. The location is
probably unexcelled, if equalled, as a
healthy and desirable one for the purposes
for which it is used, and the full develop
ment of all the powers and beauty of
driving and trotting horses
But the main attraction that calls to-.
gether so many brood mares from so
many different sections, is in the reputa.
ton of the celebrated stallion, Lambert,
as trotter and as the sire of trotting
stock. This stallion has proved himself
one of the best of the sons of old Ethan
Allen (who has made the best time on
record for full race, to 90 as they
please) On the other side, of the dam,
Lambert has some of the best of the trot-
ting blood of Abdalla and Star. The
clean blood and intelligent head, neck
and countenance, rs well as the clean but
sinewy limbs of Lambert, must strike
every one, at first sight, as denoting a
horse of no common blood or powers, and
we are not SO much surprised that the
long, low, sweeping strides, with the reg
ular clock work like continuous action
that characterized old Ethan above all
other trotters, should descend to his
grandchildren through Lambert, or that
some Of the colts of Lambert are proving
80 fast, Zone of them having already made
his mile in less than 2:20) which is the
more remarkable, as Lambert is yet but
twelve years old. The amount of service
performed by Lambert this spring already
June 6th) amounts to Sc mares, and his
engagements already cover enough to
probably make with these) over 100
an assurance that the enterprise of Messrs.
Bates & Harris is proving remuneratve,
and that their efforts to improve our hor.
ses is meeting with success and apprecia.
tion by the public.
AT these stables may also be found the
thoroughbred stallion, Shiloh, who brings
some OF the best blood of his kind from
the south, as well as some honorable scars
received from sabre cuts in the battle OF
Shiloh. He is a horse Of great deal OF
nerve and action, and our farmers can by
him test the value of the thoroughbred
theory, at very moderate price.
We are much pleased to record the
success of these gentlemen in their enter.
prise, and hope it will continue, as we
feel assured it will, as long as it receives
the prudent care and judgment of Mr..
Harris Ia its management.
We can assure all who may call on Mr..
Harris, such treatment and information
as will cause them to feel that their time
is well spent. And we would also say
that we are not writing to build up a
business, but to chronicle a few facts Of
one already established and in full sue.
cessfal operation.
We hope the other enterprises of the
kind being started in our county and
state, may be managed with as much pru-
dence and zeal, and meet with as full a
measure Of success as the one at Cream
Hill.