The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-02-12

bert, land is said to be one Of the Princes invei
lions. The interior is adorned with marble
tables upon which stand the pans contain
ing the milk. Under these tables a constan
supply OF water is kept, which may be drain
ed off at leisure by means Of plugs. Three
fountains constantly play, the most beauti'
full being one representing Gibson's 'sTintet
Venus" Among the articles kept In the
dairy are some rare old china. presented tt
the Queen by members of the Cobourg fami
ly. The patent .churn produces in hal
hour thirty pounds Of butter. Clinedinst'l
churn would do it in less time. The neatness
order and industry Of the dairyman and his
wife are perceptible in all departments Of
this establishment. By one of the regula
lions, the resident farm laborers are allowed
a daily supply of milk according to the size
of their families. Much taste and judgment
are displayed in the model dairy, which is
but another monumental the practical good
sense of Prince Albert.
Amongl the peculiar institutions of the
/
established by the Prince for the use of the
farm laborers. Aregister of those who at
tended the evening classes and their pro.
gress in studies was regularly inspected by
him, and he never failed to reward the con-
slant attendant and successful student. In
connection with the school, he provided a
small, we'll selected library for the use Of all
employed on the estate.
| He always insisted that mechanic or Ia
borer might prosecute bodily and mental
work at the same tint, and that by doing so,
| he secured to himself constant source Of
| delightful companionship. By reason Of his
books and the information he acquired from
them, he provided himself with cheerful
fellowship at all times. Without relaxing
his labors,he might, said the Prince, by and
| through his books, be in all times and at all
places. How different it is with his fellow
workman who has no such resource-who
has no such companionship within himself !!
If his mind is not an utter blank, it is filled
with a world of trifing and debasing thought.
A man, however. accustomed to think, to
read, and to hold intercourse with pure
and lofty morality, has tastes above those of
his illiterate companion, and might hold in
whatever sphere Of life higher social pc
sition, In addition to the library which be
provided, he encouraged and aided the
workmen to purchase few books for
themselves, thinking that well selected
collection of these in house was a pledge
of domestic comfort, of happy fire-side in
fluences, and the best security for their con-
tinuance. These good books the Prince re-
garded as household deities. shedding light
and intelligence, begetting feelings of friend
ly interest within each, to man and every
living thing, elevatlng his ideas of the works
of God, expanding his views of this and the
world to come, staying the downward ten
denotes of their natures, purifying, emo
bling and enlarging their affections, and
thus becoming the shields Of the household
virtues. These, he said, were the real, true
household deities, and not the false gods set
up by the Romans in their ignorance and
superstition. In word, good books were,
in his opinion, the best protection Of every
social virtue, and the best security to do.
nestle comfort and peace. Few people there
are who will not subscribe to the business
of his views on this subject.
A monthly report of the operations of the
farm was made to Prince Albert who in
spected them closely and issued instructions
I'm io 1or,&
in his farming operations.a as in all the duties
of life, to discover what was true and to
practice that which is good.
During the period of our visit to Berk-
shire, the farmers were engaged in blowing
their land for the spring crop, and the pro-
cess, though meao to MS, was decidedly anti
quated. They had five to six horses har-
messed, one behind another, to the ploughs,
aud while one man held the handles, anoth-
er managed the team. From this almost
obsolete method of turning the sod is doubt
less derivedthe old distich,
.He that by the plough would thrive
Himself must either hold or drive"
The reason given for using so many horses
and not putting them abreast, was the stiff
ness of the soil anG consequent heavy
draught; that by employing more horses than
is necessary they stand the work better and
longer than when too hard pressed; that part
of the team consists OF young horses, which
are thus exercised and assist in the labor,
without injury to themselves, and harnessed
in line ahead Of each other they do not
injure the soft surface soil on the land side.
These are very plausible reasons for the
plan. but we are disposed to believe never-
only the horses required for the work, than
supernumaries to prevent possible injury to
them that before putting young horse to
the severe work of the plough, he ought to
be we'll broken, SO that he may perform his
work steadily and thoroughly, making full
one in the team, and that five or six heavy
horses, marching one after another, at the
bottom of a furrow will do more injury to
the land, than if harnessed abreast. Accept.
ing, however, without argument, the expla-
nation of the British farmer, the question is
submitted to our practical agriculturist, who
will, If they have not long since done so,
soon solve the problem.
End Of Chapter vi
THIS MONTH, February, will be odd in
many respects. It will have in the first
place an odd number of days, owing to its
leap-year distinction. It will have an odd
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