New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-08-10
LEISURE HOURS.
ORANGE COUNTY.

'NSs W N'''
FACILITIES.
MApLEroN, Orange County, N. Y, July D.
Tho "reaI country" as Sir Walter scotts "Pet Mar
toreo calls farm-where there are cows, ana pigs anu
ducks and hens and bubbejocks-is unquestionaby nc
llehfu II Isn't very difficult TO find such "real coul
tryr this Summer in Orange County. But the ihooon'
OF farm life to the little Scotch asse were. OF course NOT
at all like our improved farming We are accustomed "
think that what is picturesque and POLITICALLY pastoral in
country life has vanished before the march oi n'ouo
Improvement. but this latter has brought sum- e
by the way OF compensation, among which may o IT,
toned the unloading fork The first introuucuoh 's
Mace Of modern mechanism which does tho WORK OF ha
dozen men, was made In the following manner On oho
=, ,h hr,obtest days OF this midsummer weather was
sitt,p under the NAPLES when heard low, rumDiing
unified sound like distant thunder. mo SKY
was serenely blue and coudess, breeze just
stIrred the maple leaves overhead and In the orchard
over tho way each apple tree stood In round black
island OF It's own shadow the sunlight running In golden
channels between In California should have said ian
earthquake" In Orange County the suggestion Is not
equally inevitable. Tho noise came from large barn
not distant, and followed by yocferous shout
ing, IL the whole interior arrangement had gone to
wreck and ruin. Presently several children Pan dis
tracedy out Of the open barndoOrs and eagerly cacd
and beckoned me to them. The last load was on the
barn floor and must see the process Of unloading now
or never From the high rounded load fork full OF
hay, about onethird OF the whole, had already peeh
taken. While the fork was roadusted, the children
stood around the wagon in breahess expectation Ier
faces glowed with the weather and the anticpa
ton of the shout which they gave at the required signal
At the time the farmer shouted the neu On 'no
NOW shouted, and there answering shout iIoi
a cellar under the other end OF the barn hundred oo.
away Tn went the hay into the peak vi
the barn. and In an instant was running i'p'
along narrow gauge railway When u reac.os INV
pont where its cargo was to be discharged, the same
oil mil cd
which opened fork aud then came back for another
Load Under the caves the barns the swallows Kept
on unnterruptedy with their work. darling in ana out
and twittering with apparent uncOncern They were
80 entirely absorbed In their own affairs That iancy
some unusual piece OF gossip was aloat perhaps they
discussing the question OF modern degehcrcy ana
how surprised grandmothers would have been az
such racket Or, they might have been telnhg tner
fedgngs OF by-gone years, when they had an undis-
turbed colony up in the peak After the hay had been
unoaded learned that thore was still half load OF
eleanngs be gathered the children begged success
fully for ride and from tho barn door saw them cling
Ing happily to "sheyings" while the wagon Joited
over the rough pasturc-feld its way TO
the meadow. / hear OF children's parties and
elaborate toilets at Long Branch, but / fancy
that most children like the "real country
best as one little fellow told the other day because
It is much bigger place to play in" Their exercise
Is not limited to the daily promenade. or even to the
walls angle patiently with pin hooks and grow healthy,
and brown and strong The odOr Of 80 tuns OF new
,nown hay was almost overpowerng; only lingering
enjoy OF the prettiest OF rural Vows
framed by the barn door went on through the building
barn belonging to one OF the large dairy farms Is
something of a curiosity to the uninitiated Going down
fight OF steps, came to the mik-room where there
were two largo covered boxes filed with pure spring
water cooled by cakes OF ice. IL the water were nan
dozen cans each containing 40 or so quarts OF milk
This was from the mornings milking The cans are LETT
here until after the milking, when the whole
anantity is cooled Fahrenheit and then taken to
the station to conveyed by the Erie Railway to New
York It is confidently asserted that Orange County
produces so superior quality OF milk that 1t Will bear
ten per cent water than milk from any other part
the country The farmers are not supposed to have
an experimental knowledge of this interesting TACT but
| the New-York mkmen less tender conscences 1t
is for this reason that the latter are eager to get
Orange County milk and higher price for 1t than
for any other They manage to keep the farmers con
sciences in order by the means OF little Instrument
called the idetomet which gauees the quality OF the
| milk They do not, however, submit in selling to the
same test. Passing out of the milk room, up another
flight Of steps the stables. Here there IS
for thirty cows which is about the average number Kept
on the best farms Beyond the stables is another Hight
| Of steps which led into the cellar, where was the
h0rsepowcr of the unloading fork. It seemed little
odd that the stables should be In the second story but
the barn built hillside, that it unnecessary
for the cows 10 pass up and down many flights of
stairs as did BY the time had gone the rounds stop
ping to look at the horses (which were of the lannon's
IIambletonan stock. the hay makers coming home
through the fields. The children were having merry
harvest home in pcrous position oG the top oi the
load.
This season, owing to the droutb, the hay crop has
only yielded about tw0tirds the quantity but
this superior quality and nearly all gathered
during the month of July which is two three weeks
| earlier than usual. The old custom OF merry making,
after this important farm abo finished, has of COURSE
fallen into entire dsuse. Indeed, few l0borcrs
now required to do the work that the farmers would
have TO make merry with moving machines. horse rakes
hay tedders and unloading forks There is, however,
traditional custom which is still Observed and which
We delight TO honor. II is that Of going fishing"
Among all OF the devotees OF that gentle craft
throughout the country. you will hardly find more
assiduous fishermen than the farmers. Greenwood
Lake is the most popular resort, and haying
on "our farm" being finished, we made the ac-
custOned trip. When started the early
bird still at its traditional occupation thin gray
film lay the meadows and the hillsides and tree
tops gered IN the morning Droves OF longtailed
cows were Illuminating drowsly on their way TO the
milking yards AT irregular intervals of half mile we
passed white farmhouses, with commOdious barns and
outbuildincs attached. The msts disappeared as the
sun rose higher aud the country opened before in
and charming views from every hilltop. On way
w passed through the village OF FloridA, noted the
birthplace OF William ii. Seward The old Seward man
sion Is still standing large square, white house. with
oval windows the door and III the gables II has
been for many years used yOnng ladies' seminary
and was endowed FOR that purpose by Mr.. Stewards |
father. branch Of the Erie Railway passes !
through the town, extending five six miles further
back into rich farming country.
Eight miles beyond we came to the village ~ Warwick |
where there another branch Of the Erie Railway. Til,
Is one Of the preest and most thriving Orange
County. II is the Of Frank FOrcstrs delightful
Warwick Woodlands and although years ciyiiza
ton have somewhat changed the character the scenes
tlt views Whch ne graphically described
stu remain The village o. Warwick lie lust ut the foot
OF bold, woodcd mountains of Tn" name. Following
steep winding mountain road, about half way up the
ascent we came u the residence OF the artist CIOpScy
The house stands iutting spur of the mountain with