Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1878-10-10

utilitarian; it keeps all its build ings in q
perfect state of repair; it sub rdinates
the picturesque, if it ever recogn yes 1T
pulls down the old mill because that ven
cradle is in the way of the rectangular
new dairy; it diverts the brook from its
fcrny course into the most common place
OF earthen pipes; it tears away the mines
that obscure the light, and it looks upon
every thing with prir of the most rae.
teal eyes sci in head that weighs, meas
ures, audits, analyses with chemical ex-
actness. The proprietor of Echo Farv
conducts it as mandatory. A record
is kept of the milk and butter produced
by each COW for each day, each month,
each year; all the feed is weighed and
the quantity enterd upon books, both that
purchased and that produced; and sep
crate account is kept of the yield of each
field. Nothing is wasted, nothing is
done by guessing, and nothing passed
unrecorded. The empliments are of the
latest or most approved model. Three
sets of ''horse" hay-forks are in use by
which hay is unloaded at the rate of ton
in four fo1ktuls and in four minutes, in
Guiding in some instances the carriage O
hay $50 feet. The other machines. also
embody some novel labor-saving princi-
Piles. No manure or fertilizers are found
necessary, except the 1900 loads made
upon the farm, and sort of muck, of
which there are several beds
The history of the farm Is interesting.
A gentleman of education, intelligence,
and wealth came TO Litchfeld some nine
years ago in search OF a summer home.
He had the most superficial knowledge
of farming, and entertained no intention
of entering that business. But having
purchased sixty-six acres and cleared
them, he purchased additional tracts,
which, became the nucleus of Echo Farm,
whose area is now about 400 acres: His
interest was enlisted in the raising of
choice stock, and beginning with herd
of five, he gradually increased the num-
Der to 100, all the herd being pure Jer-
seys. with authentic and valuable pedi-
grees. The rocky fields were cleared,
laid out, and inclosed by massive stone
walls. Old and inadequate buildings on
the consolidated land were demolished,
and lew ones of improved pattern erect
ed. In 1878 BAN &c feet by IS was
built; an addition, 100 feet by 40, was
made the following year; and in 1875 an
other addition was made, of 1911 feet by
35. These three building s from the three
sides of tho barn-yard. They are built
of pine upon massive granite foundations
about two feet wide, which are laid in &C.
ment. All the woodwork is painted
soft drab color, even the proprietor's res
idence, and the telegraph poles that line
the roadway.
A desire for simplicity and durability
in preference to ornamentation or showi.
ness is visible everywhere; there is no
litter, and there are no gaps in the fences
or walls, which are from eighteen inches
to twenty -four in thickness, every crevice
being filled like a mosaic with stone
that exactly fits it. Care, thrift, and in.
genuity have acted like three charms
When the fields were being cleared, such
large quantities of stone we're gathered
that some perplexlty arose as to where
they should be put Many hundreds CT
loads were used in foundations Of the
buildings, in the fences, and filling ra-
vines, but more remained, and these
were deposited upon several sterile hill
locks of no value, where masses of swap
grass were laid over them, and covered
with light dressing OF soil. Grass seed
was sown upon the soil, and it took we'll,
soon transforming the barren heaps to
verdant knobs, whose blades are remark
ably hardy. 1t was not so much for the
sake of the land gained that the stones
we've thus disposed OF, but it was rather
to prevent the formation of nurseries for
weeds, shrubs, AMI brambles, which tie
would have quickly become.
Two and half acres are planted with
beets which are the only roots feed to tie
cattle, the crop averaging 1900 bushels
an acre, and more than 5000 tons of hay
are housed a 9ar.-W. II. Rideing, IN
Horper's Magazine for October.