Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-07-31
Distinguished yIrglnIan's Views oil
Kentucky and Its Farming.

tne True princlples VI AaAH5'
grafton, pulverization Of soils, and the
causes of exhaustion Of lands, is now in
our State and gives expression to his
opinion of Kentucky as follows in the
American Farmer:
Paris, a beautiful city Of about four
thousand souls, rises high on the 'ex-
tended plains; and law and order, and
quiet, reign supreme. This is the coun-
ty seat of Bourbon. The courthouse
is a magnificent structure, reared since
the war. In the Clerks Office are to be
seen original letters Of Boone, legal
papers connected with suits in which
Boone and Kenton appear to have sued
and been somewhat litigous, and awaited
themselves of legal technlcalihes and
contentious. Boone was manifestly
illiterate; Kenton was involved in debt,
and evaded the sheriff's process, as APP
pears from returns of ioficers 10 the
effect that he had fled whence it was
dangerous to pursue, on occount'
presume, OF the Indians.
Paris has a competent number OF
well attended churches, with an able
and earnest clergy. Virginian traditions
are indslibly impressed on this city and
country. The principal families refer
with pride to Virginia ancestry, and
Justly claim Kentucky as next to the
mother in the elements of true great
ness and polite society.
The chief productions Of Bourbon are
large, enterprlsing, intelligent men and
women; believe it can boast OF the
talent and most splendid ladies on the
continent. The picture Of a fashionable
promenade in Paris, where many OF
the ladies rise to six feet, might seem
extrayagant, or inspire anxiety for
effeminate charms but If could
describe these accomplished ladies, or
the inspiration of their commanding
presence and polished modes, you
would no longer imagine that woman's
sway over the destinies Of men and
nations may be traced to some unden-
mabel weakness.
Bourbon county is famous also for
the production Of blue grass, improved
cattle and fine whisky. OF the cult
waited crops, the chief staples are corn,
wheat and hemp. The rocks, soil ana
water are analogous to those Of South
west Va; but the limestone is deeper
The climate is milder; the cropping
season about two weeks longer at either
end. affording month longer Tor tho
production Of crops.
Among the largest land-holders anu
most enterprising farmers are the
Clays, Virginia blood, whose immense
estates have survived, unscathed, the
crisis that has forced scores OF extensive
farmers in the county to assignments
Famous among the cattle-breeders are
the Bedfords, also Of Virginia ancestry
one of whom purchased the forty
thousand-dollar COW, and actually paid
thirty-six thousand dollars for her, Sue
died soon after her ARRIVAL in Kentucky
in calying. The calf survived, and was
sold for fifteen thousand dollars. A
suit Is now pending, brought by the pur'
chaser ofthe calf, for damages, feran
alleged breach of warranty OF his
potency. Choice animals have ire
quently sold at from five to ten thous-
and dollars; but they can be bought
now at as many hundreds. Inc
breeders do not expect high prices ID
the present crisis, and would be glad to
sell to their Virginia cousins, or even a
Marylander, at prices consistent with
the times.
An important item among large
farms is bluegrass seed. 1t is harves-
ted by running machine over the field
which strips of the heads, and is alter
wards cured and passed through screens
or siyes, separating some of the straw
But after the best cleaning practlceo
here. a novice would hardly suspect any
seed in the chaffy stuff it brings from
65 to 10 cents, per bushel of fourteen
pounds. A few years ago it brought
two dollars. Mr.. C. NJ. Clay last sea-
son saved some five thousand bushels
thus, .at the price of 1876, the tops OF biz
grass would have brought ten thousand
dollars, leaving stems and blades stand
ing on the nslg ttSass region, in Fayette
county. In this county the breeding
and training Of fine horses is perhaps
more absorbing than in any other part
of the State. Chiefcrops corn, wheat
and hemp; bluegrass seeds is also
saved in great abundance.
Jefferson county, IN which Louisville
is situated, is famous also for fine
horses and beautiful farms. Irish pc
tatoes are here grown 10 considerable
extent, in addition to the staples already
mentioned. We visited the stables OF
Mf. L.L. Dorsey, breeder Of the famous
Goll-dust strain Of trottlng horses. He
has on hand about one hundred head Of
stations, geldings and mares. Rolla,
sired by the original Gold-dust, is as
perfect a specimen, indeed L think the
most beautiful horse ever saw; half
interest in him was sold for ten thous-
and dollars few days after his famous
trot at Buffalo. About a hundred of
this horses brothers, sisters and Off
sprinr-stallions. mares and oeldinos.