The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1886-07-02
LANSING.
Notes By The Way.


From the Michigan Farmer.
SHIAwAssEE CoUNTY-VIsIT TO SOME
OF It's HERDS AND FLocKs-A SEC
TON THAT is COMING TO THE
FRONT WITH Coon STOCK.
A long promised visit was made
the past week to that portion of
Shiawassee County which lies in
the angle formed by the Detroit &
Milwaukee and Chicago & Grand
Trunk Railroads, whose outlets at
present are Gaines, Durand and Ban
croft. About in the center Of this
tract of country is the pretty little
town of Byron, once thriving and
active business place, with a prom
Using future; but the railroads passed
on either side of it and drew its trade
to other points. 1t has magnificent
water power, the Shiawassee River,
and the inhabitants are now congrat-
uldting themselves that they have
at last secured railway connection
with the rest of the world through the
extension of the Toledo & Ann Arbor
Railway, the track for which has been
laid and over which trains will prob
ably commence running within the
next thirty or forty days. Byron will
then be the center of large trade
with prosperous agricultural section,
and will now take new lease of
life.
At Gaines station, on the d. & M.
Railroad Mr.. E. S. Burnett, farmer,
Shorthorn breeder and general good
fellow, met us with team, and under
his guidance two days were spent in
visiting among the farmers. Among
those we met were Mr.. Sherman,
Mr.. VanAuken and Mr.. Thomas
Smith, all pioneers, and among the
first settlers who appeared to contest
the supremacy with the wolves and
Indians. At Mr.. VanAuken's we
stopped few moments to see fine
young horse he has, sired by Gen.
Grant, he by Mambrino Billy, a son
of Harris Mambrino Chief aIo4,
light bay, which would make a good
single driver or one of a carriage
team. In the same pasture we came
across half a dozen high grade Short
horn COWS and heifers, which met our
idea of what a COW for the average
farmer should be-large, smooth,
well fleshed, and carrying splendid
udders.
A stop was made at M. S. Smiths
to see his fish ponds, where he is
testing in practical manner whether
fish can be raised artifcially so as to
make it successful business upon
farm adapted to it. Running through
this farm is large creek, which sup.
plies an abundance of water. Mr..
Smith has dug two large ponds in
close proximity to it, and separated
from each other by roadway. The
water is conveyed into these ponds,
keeping the water at a certain depth
all the time. In one of these ponds
400 German carp of two years
growth, besides some older ones.
The other pond is stocked with pick
erel (the pike of the Detroit MARKET
They are doing well, and Mr.. Smith
is so we'll satisfied with his expert
ment that he he will enlarge the
ponds and improve them in various
ways.
Mr.. Smith has o fine farm upon
which he has expended a great deal
of hard work, having a great deal of
it well tiled, and everything betok-
ening a thrifty farmer. He carries
good deal of stock, cattle, horses and
sheep. He is crossing his dairy cows
with Jersey bull from the herd of
II. Kingman, Duke of Spiritwood
I3a87, A. J. c. c. Herd Register;
solid color, black points shading to
silver gray, white fillet, black tongue
and switch. He also has four year
old grade Clyde stallion, and some
good brood mares. A handsome bay,
tour years old, trotting bred, which
would make fine driver, is for sale.
The farm of Mr.. f. S. Burnett was
next reached, where stop was made