Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-12-14
A STATESMAN'S HOME.
The Mansion and Farm Of Con-
gresham Hewitt, Near
New York.
Six Hundred Pounds OF Butter
a Week al Ninety Cents
a Pound.
Journal Of tho American Agricultural AlI0-

NANNlSAsN
At Ringwood, in the Wyanockie
Valley, is the residence Of the Hon
Abram S. Hewitt, containing 1000
acres, about equally divided between
bottom land and mountain pasturage
The narrow valley in which it lies is
fertile and beautiful. The mansion
occupied by Mr.. Hewitt stands on an
elevation 10 the midst Of a beautiful
park of elms and naples, and is
further adorned by fine shrubbery and
by a number of acres in a well kept
lawn. Here are also a valuable
grapery aud hot house and a large
number Of fruit trees and choice
plants, the verandas, which are very
spacious, being filled with rare plants
and flowers. The house itselfis built Of
wood, in the architecture Of the Eliza
bethan period, and is recognized
as one of the finest country residences
in the United States. There are
doubtless residences in the country
built of stone that have cost more
money, but none can present a more
beautiful architectural picture or be
more perfect in its interior arrange
ment. The main hall resembles that
of Warwick Castle, England. 1t is
% by 40 feet, finished in hard wood.
The walls are Ornamented with speci-
mems of nearly every description of
arms used in the late war. On the
left is a capacious open fireplace, with
antique andirons, cushioned settees
here and there, unique chairs, tables
and other adornments. A staircase oil
marvellous beauty and elegance leads
from the rear Of the hall to the
upper floors. Opening from the
hall, on the right, is an ele-
CANT dining room. The music
room, billiard room, sitting room,
school room, and library adjoining.
On the left are drawing rooms and
Mr.. Hewitt's study, filed with a great
collection Of practical and scientific
books. The rooms are furnished with
every possible article for use and lux
ury, and the walls of every room in
the house are adorned with pictures,
steel plates, water colors, or oil paint
ings. On the FIRST floor are fifteen
rooms, the second nineteen, and in the
attic eight. The older portion Of the
house is more than a century old. A
hundred yards distant from it is a
small brick building, still in a perfect
state Of preservation, which during
the Revolution was used by Washing.
ton as a blacksmith shop, and is still
used for that purpose. The grounds
surrounding the house are adorned by
several small lakes.
Mr.. Hewitt owns some carriage and
saddle horses Of thoroughbred stock,
but his chief pride is in his jersey
and Holstein cattle. OF the former
he has twenty-four COWS, and Of the
latter four, one Jersey bull and one
Holstein bull. The Holstein COWS are
very handsome, and we're purchased
from Judge Fullefton's stock The
dairy is a pretty building Of the
Swiss chalet style, and is one of the
finest in the country. II is supplied
, with a large stream Of running water
drawn from a lake above, entering the
building on the second floor and de-
scending TO the basement, after sup,
plying power for a water wheel which
does the work Of the churning. The
walls are stone, with a cemented floor
tiled sides and hard wood ceilings
the room measures % by 30 feet AID.
Joining is the ice house, by means o.
which the temperature is kept at the
proper point.
The principal production Of the
farm is butter, Of which the most
made in the winter months, wher
from 575 to 800 pounds Of butter ar
produced each week, and Of SO OK
cellent a quality that a market ha,
readily been found for it during The
T last ten years at the rate Of ninety
cents per pound. The dairy and al
its appointments arc perfect for III,
uses for which they are designed, the
dairy room being absolutely clean
The COWS are kept with the most scru.
pulous care, being fed with corn and
meal in the summer; and in the win.
ter with meal aud chopped hay
steamed. In this dairy the cream i,
set about twenty -four hours; and, il
it sours, the milk and cream arc
churned together to prevent loss Of
cream. The churning is done at IS
degrees in the summer and 60 in the
winter. The dairy is managed BY
Mrs. Hewitt, who is a daughter Of
Mr.. Peter Cooper, and who justly
takes great pride in her work, pariio-
ularly as her mother and mothers
sister were expert butter makers be-
fore her. The practical work is done
by an experienced Scotch dairy won
an, whose husband, Mr.. James Mon
nigan, a thoroughly experienced farm
er, has the immediate management Of
the farm.
Mr.. Hewitt, it is appropriate to
state, is the largest individual EN-.
ployer Of labor in the United States.
having four hundred families on his
estate 1t Ripgsocd end employing
three ihousand hands At bis diG REM
manufactures. aui during the hard