The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-03-03

Cincinnati Gazette writes: General
Garfield's farm contains one hundred
and fifty-iye acres. 1t lies twenty
five miles east OF Cleveland, fronting
on the old wagon.road from Cleveland
to E.iiaio, and the Lake Shore rail-
road runs through it. The soil is a
rich, sandy loan, and is very produc.
tive. The fences are kept in good
repair. and are the best in the town.
ship. When Gen. Garfield purchased
the farm, about four years ago, there
were about eight acres of swamp land
near the center of it which was con.
sidered almost worthless. The Gen. s
knowledge of engineering here came
into practical use, and under his per.
sonal supervision the swamp was
drained. 1t is now very valuable
land. Besides, the drains furnish a
constant and abundant supply of pure
water, which, by means Of hydraulic
ram, is forced up to the elevated site
of the house and barns. where it is
used. This very simple and mex
pensive kind of water.works is a
model farm improvement, which
might he adopted with advantage by
many farmers. The General has
herd of twenty-six, mostly grade
Durhams, but there are three Alder
ney cows and one thoroughbred AL
derney bull. The latter was present.
ed to Gen. Garfield by Hon. a. S.
Hewitt before the unfortunate I'M.
pleasantness growing out of the
Mercy Chinese letter. Thereby
hangs a tale," At the last session of
congress, after the hot debate on the
"riders' to the appropriation bill,
Gen. Garfield and Mr.. Hewitt were
engaged in friendly conversation. 1t
will be remembered that Garfield had
denounced the action of the demo.
Gratis as revolutionary. Said Hewitt:
General, l have some fine Attorney
stock, and l will send thoroughbred
bull calf to you on one condition"
"What is the condition." asked Gar.
field. THAT the bull shall be named
by me-" said Hewitt. "All right"
said the general, land what name
will you give!" Revolution" said
Hewitt. WELL" rejoined the Gen.
eral, lit shall be that If you say so,
but l think more appropriate name
would be Congressional Rider"
The calf soon came to the farm, and
bears the name that the donor gave
him. The milk from Gen. Garfield's
dairy is carried to the railway station
every morning and evening, and
shipped to the Cleveland market.
Near the barn is a small building, in
which is kept steam engine, used
for saving wood, cutting food for the
stock. etc. Besides the stock already
mentioned, there are eighteen thor.
oughbred Cotswold sheep, and
dozen swine of the Berkshire and
Poland. China breeds. Notwithstand-
ing the alleged depredations of visi-
tors, very fair crops were harvested
as the result of the past seasons
work. From fifteen acres Of corn
there were husked 1,030 bushels;
seven and q half acres of wheat av.
eraged 3S bushels per acre; fourteen
acres of oats yielded SIS bushels: six
acres of barley, 240 bushels; eight
acres of rye, 272 bushels; from thirty.
five acres of meadow were harvested
Is tons of hay, and two acres man.
gel wurtzels yielded 500 bushels.
There is also small buckwheat crop
not yet threshed. There are fifty
acres of pasture. There is small
orchard, which bore this year about
500 bushels of apples. The farm,
with the improvements made on it by
Gen. Garfield. is estimated to he
worth $25 900. Gen. Garfield has the
reputation among his neighbors of
being a good farmer~-one of the best,
indeed. in this region, where good
farmers abound. They tell NE that
he manifests Il deep interest in every
thing pertaining to agriculture and
stock.raising. He finds recreation in
farm work, and personally takes u
hand in it whenever he can find time
to do so. Although he has three
men employed on the farm and sew.
eral servants about the house, he is in
the habit Of doing any little chores
or errands that may come in his way.