Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-09-18

conc SnHpcu tower. Across tho front,
forming tho fourth side of the square, Is "A
high wall of red limestone, with a mas
sivc gateway in the centre From u dis
lance this structure with walls and tow
crs. looks like an old feudal stronghold
with its castcllated turrets and strong bat
Elements. The building is heated by steam
and lighted by gas, and Is supplied with
running water. Steam elevators raise the
grain to the granaries which have a ca q
pacitN of 1900 bushels. The immense hay
lofts have capacity of 400 tons the hay
being lifted to the lofts by steam power.
On the ground are stalls for 20 or so mules
Whlch are used in farm work. There are
many harness rooms and storage rooms for
the farming tools and machinery. In the
, right wing are the farm Offices connect
ed by telephone with every part of the es-
tate DIR. Webb is methodcal and runs
| ms farm with the same careful attention
to detail that he gives his railroad enter
prises
THE BARNS AND HORSES
The ring barn is as by l07 feet in size
| The exterior walls are of stone and it is
rooted with shingles. the roof being pier, -
ed by dormor windows. The roof is sus-
pended or laid massive iron girdC1 -
which stretch from wall to wall The en-
trance is through a lofty stone archcd
gateway Along the interior walls are
rows of box stalls II by l6 feet in size, and
at one end are 20 stalls where bloodcd
| stations are kept. The floor of of this rir Z
is of earth, strewn with mixture OF sand
and clay, covered with tantark. Across
| the ring from the entrance is u gallery
where one may watch the horses as they
arc being put through excuses. The build
ing is heated by steam and lighted by cleo
| tricity No matter how deep the snow
may be outside, DR.. Wcbb's horses need
not lack exercise and training.
Dr. Webb has made a speciality of hack
ncys. Some years ago he bought Match
less of Londesboro from Henry FairfaN,
of Virginia. Matchless was an import, Il
horse, and at that time was considered one
| Oi the tlncst stations of his breed IN the
world. The doctor imported hackney )
from the stables of w. Burdctt Coutts Of
England. Dr. Webb has made the breed
in" of horses "A special study. particularly
| the Improvement of horsencsh by the
| crossing of strains. lie imported French
c"Hch horses from the stables of the
French government at Calvados, crossing
I them with English hackneys. He also
| bought the Russian Orlon pony stallion
! Macmillan to cross with Welsh and Shct-
land pony mares. He has been Interested
in Vermont horses. and has given the use
| OF one or two stations to Vermont towns
AT nominal price to improve the native
stock. year or two ago a party of Jap
ancSe including two directors Of the inn
! porial stables, went to Shclburne Farms
to purchase stations, which they intended
| 10 send to Japan to improve the native
| breed.
The coach barn and private stables are
! provided with every convenience. The
| farms nave a carpenter shop. paint shop,
anu IN faot, many branches of industry,
/ reminding one in this respect of a great
southern plantation in antebollum days.
THE HOT HOUSES.
There arc soo running feet of lighthouses.
! y made n
are rare varieties from Mexico, not cata-
| loEucd in England or America, an improve
ment on the Gardcna Florida. The violet
house is 100 feet long. Among the violet :
grown are the English double violet. Lady
! Hume Campbell and the Marie Louise. A
| violet dinner is sometimes given by Mrs.
| Webb, requiring a large number of bios
| SONS. The rose house is 80 feet long.
Among the many varieties grown are tho
American Beauty, Bride. Bridesmaid,
Catherine. Bell Subrecht and Duchess Of
| Albany. The MaicChal Neil rose has Il
special house. A grapevine is trained T.
| run along it's sides, and great clusters Of
purple fruit ripened under glass are 50
| large as to rcmnd one of the grapes OF
Eschol, pictured in the old family Bblcs
which the ISraelitish spies bore out of the
! Promised Land on their shoulders.
| The palm house is - by 80 feet in SIZE
| and there is also a large fern mousse. on
| tanning exquisite maidenhair and golden
ferns.
| THE GAME PRESERVES.
The forests on the estate are well stocked
| with game. much time and money being
! spent in the proccss.A g1mckecper is en-
ploycd to look after the preserves. \ Spc-
cialtv has been made of breeding English
phcH sants. Or. Webb has been able to
raise them successfully, and the birds are
| found sometimes even in remote parts Oi
the State. Requests are constantly heing
| received for eggs from all parts If the
| country. The birds are fed four times Il
| day, coming i'll response to the keeper
whistle. They are tame until the hunting
season opens. The annual hunt takes
place in November. About ~ men are son,
cut to beat the bushes and scare up tn,
birds. The pheasant is bird Of rapid
| 0isht and becomes wild after the FIRST
days shooting, scattering to all parts of
the surrounding country. Many guests
who enjoy the shooting are entertain d Al
this time. From 200 to 300 brace arr usu
ally shot each season. The reserves have
also been stocked with black game, import
ed from Sweden-a bird about the size OF
partridge. black and wild.
Ia 1871, 25,on trees. mostly elms. mapl, :
and pines, were planted on the state. III,
/ following year i0,ocC trees, Including Cot
orado spruCcS, "ero set out, and every sue
ccedmc year has seen this work continued
! on large scale. In 1909 155,IND pine trees
| were planted. They were laid out in 2
groves in landscape work, Not only small
/ trees are transpiantcd, but large ones
Great Gins ar" taken up bodily 10y an APP
paratus prepared for the purpose and mov-
ed successfully.
Eight miles OF mains carry water to var
4 ious parts of the farms. The mains are OF
sufficient capacity to supply 2l2 inch fire
! MIGRANTS, ana the force is sufficient L.
throw stream over any of the build
ings, The FIRST reservoir built has a capa-