Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-05-21
A Visit to Malvern Farms.

Eds. C0untTy. Gentleman Malvern
Farms have already a national reputation.
The breeders of Short. Horn cattle and
trotting horses number this establishment
among those that keep the best, and still
aim at improvement. They were made up
of several farms bought in Morristown, VT,
by Mr.. A. W. Griswold, two miles from
Morrisville depot, on the Portland and Og-
densburg Railroad, and six miles from
Stowe, the headquarters Of the pleasure
seekers and Observation-Disclosures who visit
Mansfield mountain. Malvern Farms stretch
across beautiful valley and up the sloping
hillside east and west. The barns, which
in winter contain the attractions of the
farm, are large and commodious yet none
too large TO hold the feed and stock of an
S00-acre farm.
In recent visit there with other mem.
bers of the State Board Of Agriculture, we
were first shown Hero ID, three-y year
old bull weighing 300, bred here, splen.
did fellow, sired by 18th Duke of Thorn.
dale-his large size prevents his use as a
stock-getter, which is to be regretted. We
were next shown stable of cows and heif.
ers, Is animals, from several different fam.
lilies, some called Kentucky reds, Airdrie
stock, princess COW, and heifer from her
by llth Duke of Thorndale. The old COW
Blanche, of the Bates stock, is a great
mixer yield of AZ quarts in one day
is claimed as her best results in the pail.
Her daughter Snowdrop has been MIXED
three years without going dry, and bred
every year. Others of this family are great
mixers.
Six Of the herd were sired BY old Baron
Oxford, bull of high repute. Some Of
the young animals we're sired by 4th Lord
of Oxford, who now stands at the head Of
the herd. He is in rather low condition,
being kept on hay. He is now seven years
old. The Oxford family are highly esteem
ed, but usually sell at price rather less than
the Duchefses.
Several very fine yearling bulls were
shown that will, doubtless, the present
spring go to different parts of the country
to improve other herds-threc Of them sired
by Baron Oxford. Nine Of the calves were
less than three months old, and 10 raising
such thrifty calves, the herdsman shows his
skill far more than by feeding the mature
animals. The calves are not allowed to
suck after they are two weeks old; then
they are taught to drink milk, to lick lit
tie meal, eat nicely cured hay and some fine
y cut turnips or mangolds. While there
is much 10 the breed, we must attribute 10
the herdsman's care the uniform excellence
Of these young calves, aud others equally
thrifty that are several months older.
We noticed chimney projecting from q
building. The Doctor asked, do you
steam the feed for the cattle 2"
Mr.. Williams, the manager, said -"No
not now. We tried steamiDg, and II made
the COWS give too much milk, and we could
not keep them in condition--so we feed
them dry feed and roots'
After hastily passing through the cattle
barns, where about fifty Short Horns and .
score Of natives or grades were examined
we went to the department devoted to
horses. About fifty horses and colts are
here in stalls and box stalls, all opening
into large yard for exercising colts. Thii
department is in the charge of II. S. Town
who is apparently well qualified for the
place. There are fourteen breeding mares
aud two stations, Tattcrsall and Dial tn,
former Is the most highly priced he wal
sired by Rysdyk's Hambletonian, and biz
dam by Daniel Lambert. He is tire,
times inbred to Abdallah, and IL believed L
be - favcrably bred for speed as any hors'