The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-08-02
THREE ROYAL FARMS.
Queen victoria Manifests Great In
terest I'm These Possessions

terest i'm These Possessions
From the Hartford Times.
If instincts and tastes are hereditary, as
they. of course. are known to be. it is no
matter of surprise to find Queen Victoria
a farmer. Farmer George" did much to
improve the Windsor Castle farm and his
tastes have shown themselves very strong
ly both in his granddaughter and great
grandson. the queen and the Prince of
Wales.
But the great developments of the OPP
erations at Windsor were due TO the fos-
tering hand or the Prince Consort Albert,
who gave much of both time and trouble
to the work; and the Improvements in the
farm itself, in its buildings, and in the
quality of the stock, were made under his
personal direction.
Therefore, though the predecessors of
Victoria have all taken more or less in
terest in farming, yet 1t is during the pres
ent reign that this has been taken up with
q determination to make the Windsor Cas-
tie estate what It is-a model farm, or
farms, for there are several
In this the prince cOnsort was strongly
supported by the queen. Since his death
the improvements have been continued,
with an evident pleasure, and as an exam
pie to others who have the same opportun-
tiles.
At Balmoral and Osborne similar work
lesser extent than at Windsor.
In her farming Victoria occupies the po-
sltion of a tenant and not an owner.
The farms at Windsor are the Shaw
and the Fleming At one time the Nor
folk, Bagshot and Rapley farms were all
held by the queen, but they were given
up a few years ago. as too heavy drain
on her pocket.
The Shaw farm, so-cslled because IL
was at one time held, before the estate
was purchased by the crown, by a French
man. Mons. de Shave, was originally
Joined TO the FrogmOre property, and was
occupied by the Princess Augusta; but on
her death in 1910 the prince -consort took
it in hand in 1861; since which time ii has
been in the possession of the queen.
The cost of the buildings erected by the
prince was enormous, and with those on
the home farm must have absorbed a very
large sum of money.
They are adapted for the breeding or
stock and at the present time there are
beside a large number of sheep and pigs.
The principal herds are those of short
horns and Jerseys, but there are also
a number of Herefords and DeVons.
The object is not merely ornamental
for the practical production of beef and
dairy produce is ever kept in view. Con-
| siderable success has been achieved in
the production of fat stock, and the
prizes won at leading shows have proven
that the system of feeding is thoroughly
understood by those in charge of the
farm.
The operations are closely watched by
members of the royal family. and at the
! residence of Mr.. TAFT, the manager, who
succeeded to this position on the death
of his father in 1882, there is a suite Of
apartments devoted to the use of her
| majesty, from which she can privately
go through the entire range OF buildings
The magnificent dairy was built accord
ing to the directions of Prince Albert, and
1t embodies all that is desirable in place
where cream and butter are to be kept
The COW house which supplies the milk IS
use in the dairy is very handsome, and
the records kept of the production Of each
animal are most complete.
The queen is a good employer and all
the workers on her estates are provided
with improved dwellings, and there are
day schools for the children and night
schools for adtf1fe