Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1881-03-14
A9rienltnral Department,
OUR NEW PRESIDENT AS
A FARMER.

Gen. Garfield is not only politician
and statesman but also farmer. and as
he has but recently been inaugurated,
some particulars as to his home life and
agricultural operations are timely. A
correspondent of Cincinnati paper, who
visited Gen. Garfield at his farm-home
in Mentor last fall, gives an interesting
account of his fertile fields and the crops
grown thereupon. He found the General
tramping about the fields in rough
suit of cashmere, his pantaloons tucked
into his boots, and a SLOUGH hat, orna-
mented with hay seed, protecting his
head. While the General was engaged
in injecting his winter wheat and OBJ
serving the condition of his cattle, Mrs.
Garfield was standing in the back door
of the house giving directions to the
"hands" about the shipment of dozen
barrels of cider which she was sendiug
away to market The scene led to in
quiries which elected facts of interest
relative to the farm and farming of the
President elect. The farm contains 1876
acres. all, except few acres of timber,
under cultivation. 1t is "a miles east
of Cleveland and the Lake Shore Rail-
road runs through it. The soil is rich
sandy loan, and very productive. The
fences are kept in good repair, as good
as any in the township. Since General
Garfield purchased the farm. four years
ago, he has drained eight acres of swamp
and made other improvements, his
knowledge of engineering proving of
great service to him. The old farm
house was entirely reconstructed last
year. 1t is now quaint but slightly
building, apparently new throughout,
and containing about twenty rooms. 1t
is plainly but tastefully furnished. The
exterior is painted white, with red roof
and green window shutters. There are
forty windows. The Generals office is
small building near his house. In the
rear, a few rods distant, are other out
buildings, including two barns which
are models of neatness and convenience.
There are five horses on the farm-a
matched team of light dappled grays, a
very fine pair of matched blacks. and a
Kentucky mare which the General
bought of Orville Grant OF cattle there
is herd of twenty-six. mostly grade
Durhams, but there are three Alderney
COWS and one thorough Alderney
bull. The latter presented to Gen Gar
field By the Hon. A. S. Hewitt. The
milk from Gen. Garfeld's dairy is carteo
to the railway station every morning
and evening, and shipped to the Cleve
land market. Near the barns is a small
building, in which is kept steam en-
CINE, used for saving wood, cutting fee(
for the stock, etc. Besides the stool
already mentioned, there are eighteen
thoroughbred Cotswold sheep, and
dozen swine of the Berkshire and POLAND
China breeds.
Very fair crops were harvested las
season, Notwithstanding the alleged dep
relations of visitors. From fifteen acre
of corn there was busked ,03O bushels
seven and one-third acres of wheat av
eraged 33 bushels per acre; fourteen
acres of oats yielded SIS bushels; ST,
acres of barley. 24O bushels; eight acre
of rye, 272 bushels. From thirty-fv
acres of meadow were harvested rs ton
of hay, and two acres of mangel wurzel
yielded 500 bushels. There was also
small buckwheat crop. There are fit
. acres of pasture There is small OF
chard, which bore last year about so
: bushels of apples. The farm, with tn
improvements made on it by Gen. Ca
a field, is estimated to be worth $25, 900
d Among his neighbors Gen. CARTEL
+ has the reputation of being good fa
i mer-one of the best, indeed in his r.
gion, where good farmers abound. The
d say that he manifests deep interest
everything pertaining to agriculture an
stock raising. He finds recreation
/, farm work, and personally takes
hand in it whenever he can fin
& time to do SO. Although he has thrt
men employed on the farm, and sewers
t servants about the house, he is in tt
u habit of doing any little chores or erranC
n that may come in his way. 1t is not a
F. uncommon thing for him to 60 to IL
postoffice, half mile away. on horsebac
sr and carry home on the pommel of h
y saddle large and we'll filled mail ba
His plain and farmerlike manners an
IT habits greatly endear him to the countl
sr people about him.
a