New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-06-01
CHAU1AUQUA TOWN AND COUNTRY CLUB
A NEW PLAN FOR EXTENDING INTEREST IN FARi
AND GARDEN woRK-THE Use OF HoUGHro'

A NEW PLAN FOR EXTENDING INTEREST IN FARM
AND GARDEN woRK-THE Use OF HoUGHToN
FARM.
PROM Az OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT or THE TRfnUSE.
NEwBrRG, y. Y, May 3l.-There has been
some speculation among well-iniormed farmers of
orange County TO the future OF IOughon Farm. the
propery OF Mr. Lawson Valentine the originator OF the
valentine varnish Company and OF the most public
spr,ed gentlemen who has settled In this county.
Several years ago Valentine purchased ono thousand
acres OF land nine MILES from this town. and seven
mlles east OF the West Point Military Academy. where
he proceeded establish not only charming home for
himself and family In the summer months but exper
mental farm which should be carried on upon n scale
then unknown in this country. To effect this he
spared no expense buildings were erected thirty in
number adapted to every department OF farm work OF
experiment. the arabic land put Into the highest
state OF cultivation possible; improved stock Of every
kind was purchased AMI the skill OF the landscape gar
dener invoked TO make tho most Of tue forest and
mountain side The management placed In the
hands OF Major Henry T. Alv ord, wellknown authority
on agricultural subjects. who has four assistants, all
thoroughly educated men.
About tho time that Mr. Valentine began his operations
here he had in contemplation the starting OF agricuI
ura paper through which he could give 10 the public
the results OF HIS experiments at oughton Farm anil It
ia said that the project went far the prepaa
ton OF the initial specimen number but. for
reason he changed his mind the last and pnr
chased an In agricultural publication elready
established which became 10 extent the OF
communication between Houghton Farm and the gen
eral public.
Through the lavish expenditure OF money guided In
course by skfu hands, the tract Of land for which Mr.
Valentine paid less than $40 per has become
great show places OF the country; particularly
intelligent visitors always welcome and afforded
ample opportunity 10 study all thedepartments OF farm
work Mr. Valentine has kept the place up not for
his personal qualification than pubic educator
In agricultural and horticultural matters. To the farm
en of Orange County the wealthy proprietor has been
especially kind. and days have been set apart from time
TO when they have been especially Invited 10 visit
the farm, and after inspecting IL thoroughly listen TO
lectures farm topics By the several man
AGRA On such occasions abundant dinners have been
provided by the host and entertain and education
have gone pleasantly hand In hand Other DAYS have
been aside for children especially In the fruit season
and pleasant ersatonal lectures have
to them for the purpose OF interesting them the cult
walton Of the soil Thus the peoI lie OF Orange County
have come TO look upon HoughtOn Farm "a "a sort Of
public property and feel real that per
talns TO 1t.
~ is Known that within the last year Mr. Valentino
In order 10 extend the educational influence of his ar
more widely has connected IL with the Chautauaua Liter
AIRY Scientific t1rcle, which has this year formed
new branch called the Chaulauqua Town aud Country
Club. the headquarters OF which IN at Houghton Farm
with Charles Barnard. the wellknown author "a IL
superintendent OF Instruction This new branch ike the
other Chautaugua departments, will conduct its educa
Onal work chiefly by correspondence ana By ercuars
prescribing uniform c0urse OF reading and of garden
and farm for each period In the year TIE corso
OF reading will be prepared In the HOughton Farm
library and all the work laid ont Ia the Chautuqua Town
aud Country CluD programme OF work will actually
performed on the farm There WIN be question boT
bureau OF Information tho farm and any auestion
asked by member OF tho club will he answered by The
person having charge OF the department 10 which the
nuestOn relates In the announcement by the Chauta
qua Literary and Scientific Circle OF the formation OF this
branch, 1t Is stated that tho club has s farm
gardens, greenhouses, dairy, experiment field and
orchard station and farm
and that all members or the club will bo welcome TO
visit HonghtOn Farm any time. snd there more
or less OF Chautauqua Town and Country Club
actually going on .
This ia ltse indicates nothing more necessarily than
that Mr. Valentine has brought the work In which he II
enthusiastically Interested in,o snch relations with u
popuar best To effect the purpose watch
lie has long had view; hut there have been reports for
few weeks past that lie proposes y do more than TINS,
or rather 10 arrange matters that Hought0n Farm
shall DO used for public instruction In agriculture lor
ever IL B ad that the farm-0F considerable part oil IL
is be pei In the hands OF trustees ~ be devoted 10
tho interets OF. and Ia bs actual headquarters OF tho
Chautauqua Town and Country Cigo. II Is sad that the
necessary papers have been nearly prepared ana tho
trustees selected aud that only tbs sickness of Mr. Val
entne, who has been conhned " Ls room Tor week