The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-10-01


since we made short visit at the farm
of Robert w. Hemenway, E-q., Of Bird
port. We found him and his good lady
at home, surrounded by all the comforts
that 90 to make home happy. The par
lor is not one of those dark, dismal ones,
made only to keep dead folks in, but light
and airy The walls are hung about with
pictures which make company for the
living. Mr. Hemenway has recently
built new barn that is a model OF taste
and convenience The front doors are
large enough to permit double carriage
to be driven in, and right opposite the
door is double stall, so that the horses
aud carriage are all ready for start.
His grain room and fodder stalls are OF
the most modern improvements. lie has
water tank, which has 70 feet head
in the barn which never freezes. 1t i
painted inside and outside, and is a mod.
el of neatness.
To the west and north Of the house,
and covering some thirty or forty acres,
is young orchard.th most prominent and
interesting feature Of the farm manage
ment, and the one Mr. Hemenway intends
shall be the speciality of the place. The
location seems admirably adapted for the
purpose The hill slopes to the south and
east and is perfectly protected on the
north and west by higher ground, cover
ed with dense woods. The orchard at
this time contains some over two thous-
and trees. 1t was commenced in a
smaller way few years since since by
Jonas Hemenway, Esq. the father Of
the present proprietor. The first setting
:, by Mr.. Robert Hemenway was some five
N>Sr>six years since, from the nursery oil
Robert j. White, OF Shelburn Point
These trees have succeeded well, and
seem well adapted to this location. They
are now beginning to bear, and prove
true to name. Some Of the finest Rus
sets, Greetings, Porters, Yellow Belle
Aeurs, Northern Spys, Swars, &c, we ev'
err saw, were on Mr.. Hemenway's young
trees. Soon after the commencement q
further addition was made of trees pur'
chased of A. Chapman, of Middlehury
grown il Connecticut by Stephen Hoy,
e. Sous Two years last spring some two
hundred were set frsm the same source
In the spring of 1871 six hundred anc
forty apples and over Que hundred anC
fifty pears were set, also few plums
peaches, &c These were purchased o
Mr.. Chapman, and proved very salts &C
tory, only one OF the apple trees aud bn
teY Of the others failing to live and grow
Last spring 100 apples and over ion
pears we're set that were purchased o
Mr. Chapmaa, aud all so far as we saw
we're alive and thriving, while alongside
are five hundred, set last spring frcm
Vermont nursery,th that are nearly all dead
probably not twenty-five will ever max
good, healthy trees. This failure is at
tributcd by Mr.. Hemenway to winte
killing in the nursery before beng trans
planted, the effects of which were no
visible at that time
Mr. llemenway's experience with tree
from different localities is that his hes
success has been with apple trees iron
Connecticut, aud with pear trees from tn
clay nurseries OF Geneva, N. Y, both G
which he has procured through Mr.. Chap
man. Except the trees purchased fror
Mr.. White, his success with trees fror
, other agents and nurseries has not bee
gratifying.
/, The sight from the top Of the hi
through the long rows of straight, thrift
young trees is very fine. Each tree seem
: striving to excel its neighbor in testifyin
to the good attention and care it receives
Mr.. Hemenway has good farm divide
: in'upland and lowland, running out upo
: the fertile valley of Lemon Fair, whic
stretches off to the east. BY the way,
=. is estimated that along that valley ther
:, are 5000 acres of uncut grass which
l.. yet to be made into hay. lfgood weatt
e er comes on, it is said the crop will
d better than if it had been cut earlier.