CATTLE SALE AT MOUNT FORDHAM. 



On the morning of the sale, this meadow-lawn presented an animated spectacle — for it 

 was embroidered M'ith groups of the finest stock — Devons, Ayrshircs, the fine Short- 

 horns, which Mr. Morris' repeated visits to England have secured to the country, the im- 

 proved dairy stock which he has bred here upon the spot, fine South Down sheep, blood 

 horses, &c. In the yards about the spacious barns also, Suffolk and other pigs, that 

 engaged the attention of many who were curious in this department. 



An admirable luncheon was most hospitably served to all the visitors at noon, and di- 

 rectly afterwards the sale commenced. In the large circle of buyers who surrounded the 

 auctioneer, we noticed not only most of the leading agriculturists who are stock-breeders 

 — the editors of our leading farming journals, and the new-beginners from various parts 

 of the country, who take their initiatory step in Short-horn learning on such occasions, 

 by buying the worst calves sold at the highest comparative prices — but a good many of 

 those whom the public are accustomed to think of as more closely devoted to the produc- 

 tion of ideas than the breeding of stock, but most of whom we were glad to learn, had 

 become interested members of the rural districts. Bryant, the poet, looked thoughtful- 

 ly in the mild faces of young heifers, and Clarke, the Editor of the Knickerbocker, seem- 

 ed speculating whether improved rounds of beef for the "Editor's Table," could be had 

 out of the material before him, while an artist-farmer evidently bid with the feeling of 

 Paul Pottkr in his heart, rather than any knowledge of the thorough-bred. Some cockneys, 

 in pumps and white stockings, had stolen out by the train, evidently wondering why the 

 streets had not been watered for the da}"-, and offered a fine contrast to a couple of our 

 quiet imperturbable friends, the Shaking-Quakers, who, in their long brown frocks and 

 broad-brimmed hats, mingled iii the crowd, evidently vastly more interested by the stock 

 itself, than by the wit of the auctioneer, or the varied expressions portrayed in the faces 

 of his auditory. 



The bidding was spirited, and the second annual sale passed of in a manner highly sa- 

 tisfactory to Mr. Morris. Dairy Stock brought prices which denoted a confidence in the 

 public in his labors as a breeder, and a growing interest in the general improvement of our 

 farm animals. This class, consisting of cows, heifers, and heifer calves — twenty in number 

 — averaged ^'78.87 per head. The pure bred stock, of which comparatively few were on the 

 catalougue, brought still higher prices. It will be understood that Mr. Morris reserved, 

 as a breeding stock, a number of his choicest animals — Short-horns, Devons, and Ayr- 

 shires — and the future sales of stock may be expected to exceed his former ones in inte- 

 rest and vlaue. 



The strictly agricultural journals will give the details of the sale at greater length. 

 What we have desired chiefly to draw attention to, is the steady and persevering effort of 

 Mr. Morris, not onl)^ to improve the stock of the country, but to set an example of the 

 best management of such sales, and the general condition and treatment of what may be 

 considered the largest class of genuinely comfortable country places in the northern states. 



