Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-08-23

a Connections Miik Farm.
A correspondent of the New York Times
gives an account Of the farm Of Mr.. T. S.
Gold, the wen known secretary OF the Con
nccticut State Board Of Agriculture, from
which we coudensc the following extract;
Mr.. Colds farm Of GEO acres is located ON
the southern slope OF Cream llIli, three mil,s
distant from the West Cornwall Il, pot, on the
llountonic railroud. and sonr GOO feet above
the ilousatonic river. From the North side
of his farm, which extends To the top of the
hill he lasa view OF the berkshire hills IN
Massachusetts, and beyond The lughanic
range, on the west side of the HoUsalunic,
secs the Cattskills, stretching along west Of
the Hudson. The rocks are large enough aud
numerous enough to try the strength of the
most energetic. From the moving lots these
rocks have been removed aud placed ia huge
stone walls. constituting the boundary and
division fences Of the farm. Some of the lat
ter Mr.. Gold now wish. were sunk IN the
Atlantic or some other ocean, rs he finds these
division fences gr'nt obstruction to the tco-
nomical working of the farm. When lac
mounts mower or horsc-r,kr, he dos not
wish to be stopped by fence. and have to
turn around every 10 or - rods. Some OF
the largest houlders, too large 10 be- removed,
he has buried past 1, SURF elton who r. the gln-
citr left thtm. and has ted 40 monument
to their memory. The soil dug from the
graves of these big rocks wits used to fill up
the hollows caused hy the removal of those
of more moderate dimensions. SO smooth
are his meadows now that the mower, tadd,r
and rake find no obstruction in their way.
Grass of course. lis the staple product of
Cream Hill farm, and the crop ayorag, Is over
200 tons. Corn, rye, wheat barley, oats aud
roots are also cultivated, SO far rs these crops
are needed for home consumption. 4 maslin
crop of barley and oats was Icing harvested
while We were inspecting the farm. by thus
raising two kinds of grain together, "a large
crop is secured, and the mixture makes an OK
cellent feed for horses and hogs. Mr. Gold
believes in grinding grain for feeding stock,
and for this purpose has mill of his own,
run by Interpretations aud waterfalls
abound on these hills-in which, besides his
own grinding, he does much custom work for
his neghbors.
All the hay and grain raised is fed out on
the farm. mainly to cows, young cattle, and
sheep-milk beef and mutton being the chief
end of feeding. The herd Of cows now in
milk numbers -, and their daily product av-
erages about II quarts each. The milk is
marketed in New York. whittier are shipped
daily IL cans of 40 quarts each, or GOO quarts
in all, retaining liberal allowance for the
wants of the large household. The cows, with
one or two exceptions are Ayrshires or high
grades of this breed, and with the same eX-
ception, were all bred ON the farm. Mr. Gold
gives decided preference to Ayrshires as
milk producers, and, as far as production is
concerned, values the grades as highly us the
thoroughbred. He began his improvement
of native cattle by crossing with thorough
bred Durham but found this breed too large
and clumsy for the hills, and changed to Ayr
ulira tharal,- iparaoai,fr tI.. ,,.pIt,ati,,, Of
milk and diminishing the expense of feeding
The flock of sheep is South-Down, which
has the reputation of producing the best NUT
ton, but Mr.. Gold frankly acknowledged that
when chop or roast was on the table he
could not by the taste, distinguish between
Cotswold and South-Down. Between either
of them and Merino he could discern differ
ence. That a roast of his South Down lamb
was excellent we can testify.
Fruit is a leading feature of this highland
farm. Apples are the staple, but pears, peach
es, plums, ounces, cherries, grapes-indeod
all the fruits of the temperate zone, are grown
in great abundance and in great perfection at
this high altitude. We Were particularly sur
prised to see in young apple orchard alter
nate rows of peach trees Just coming into
bearing, Mr. Colds idea being that the peach,
being Il short-lived tree, would get out of the
way by the time the apples came into full
production. Not content with outdoor grapes,
Mr.. Gold has cold grapery, in which Black
Hamburg and other choice varieties are grown
under glass.
The spacious garden was our special ad-
miration. There were to be found all man
ner of toothsome vegetables and in the great
| est profuson. Provision was evidently made
| for vegetables at all seasons of the year
Where early peas and potatoes had been har-
vested, turnips were already started. The
| dwarf corn was ready for the table, and the
| giant evergreen was coming along TO furnish
n supply in the autumn.
For farm teams Mr.. Gold gives the prefer
ence to horses and mules. The latter he finds
hardy and docile, great workers and cheaply
| kept. After days work on the farm they
Were ready to carry milk to the depot or grist
| to the MILL and this without fretting, but not
| without some urging. Space fails US to speak
| of the commodious and convenient barns n
| large one built this summer having all mod
| ern conyeniencos for storing the increasing
| crops and housing the increasing herds and
| focks, II basement for the manure n cellar
| for fruit aud roots the first floor with we'll
| lighted and well-yentilated stables on the sun
ny side, and bays for hay on the north side,
| while a stone wharf at either end gives easy
| access to and egress from the second floor, on
| which three or four loads of hay can stand ut
| one time. The foundation is of the most sol
id masonry, and the massive oak and chest
nut frame, the timber all grown on the farm,
looks as though it might last for generations.