SOLON ROBINSON, 1841 249 



from the great coal, iron and timber region on the head 

 waters, to the Ohio river; also visited the Penitentiary, 

 and took particular notice of the great bagging manufac- 

 tory; examined the fine specimens of beautiful marble 

 that abound in the hills : and on the evening of Monday, 

 the 16th, by special invitation went out on the Lexington 

 rail-road, five miles, to the plantation of Robert W. Scott, 1 

 Esq. one of "nature's noblemen," dignified and improved 

 by a location in "glorious old Kentuck." 



In Mr. Scott, I found one of the best specimens of "a 

 lawyer turned farmer," that I have ever met with. In 

 his wife, I found those delightful charms that make a 

 wife lovely. It is impossible for me to speak of this city 

 bred pair, retired to and enjoying the comfort, content- 

 ment and happiness only to be found upon a farm, as I 

 feel that the amiability of their character deserves. But 

 their remembrance is impressed upon my heart, and 

 forms one of those links of union, "that can, that must, 

 that will" be made to exist between the friends of agri- 

 cultural improvement. 



Mr. Scott's farm is a perfect illustration of what may 

 be done upon worn out land, by the improved system of 

 husbandly. His farm is in a high state of cultivation — 

 every acre, woodland and all, yields a good interest upon 

 the valuation of $60 per acre. The entrance to every 

 lot is through a well hung, self-shutting and fastening 

 gate, and every lot numbered with conspicuous figures 

 upon the gate post. 



Not a bush, or weed or brush, or old rotton log is per- 

 mitted to disfigure the beautiful lawn-like blue grass pas- 

 tures, which are covered by some of the finest specimens 

 of Durham cattle in the state. 



The greatest cultivated crop is hemp. Here for the 

 first time, I witnessed the operation of the hemp cradle ; 

 and although I had looked upon it as a doubtful improve- 



1 Robert W. Scott, of Locust Hill, six miles from Frankfort. 

 Noted livestock breeder. See Cincinnati Western Farmer and 

 Gardener, 2:241-42 (August, 1841). 



