A SUMMER DRIVE IN THE LAKE COUNTRY. 211 



II. 



Early Monday morning we were again on the jour- 

 ney. The day was all that could be desired, pleasant, 

 with a cool breeze fragrant with blowing over wheat 

 and grass fields. Lady Bess was in high spirits, and 

 measured off the miles without show of weariness. 

 There are few pleasant er roads than the one from Oak- 

 field to Honeoye Falls. It is almost straight, six rods 

 ^vade, and well kept. It is a part of the old Albany and 

 Buffalo turnpike, and before the railroads traversed this 

 region it must have been a very prominent thoroughfare 

 for all kinds of travel. The country through which it 

 passes is one of the finest in tlie State — Genesee, Living- 

 ston and Monroe counties. All kinds of crops are look- 

 ing well, especially wheat, which will soon be ready for 

 the harvest. In Monroe County farmers are anticipating 

 a yield of twenty-five to forty bushels per acre. Large 

 areas of potatoes are growing and look promising. This 

 is the great potato region of the State, both in quantity 

 and quality. The meadows are yielding an abundant 

 crop of hay, much of it already secured. Early fruits 

 are plentiful, especially cherries, which are now being 

 marketed. In Mendon, this county, a provident farmer 

 a few years ago planted a row of cherry trees outside 

 the road fence in front of his premises, and this year 

 these wayside trees have produced for market seventy- 

 five bushels, and yielded abundantly to travelers, who 

 have often refreshed themselves with the luscious fruit. 



