250 INDIANA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS 



ment, I am bound to say, after conversing with the pro- 

 prietor, and more particularly with the field hands, that 

 it is a decided improvement, and a highly useful agricul- 

 tural implement. 



After spending one of the most agreeable days of my 

 life, I took the evening train of cars, and arrived in Lex- 

 ington, Tuesday evening about dusk. The distance from 

 Frankfort to Lexington, 28 miles, over a very rough rail- 

 road ; the cars propelled by horses. 



I had no sooner registered my name at the hotel, than 

 I found sundry old acquaintances, not of me personally, 

 but by name. 



Around Lexington, the garden of Kentucky, I visited so 

 many fine plantations, and met with such a universal 

 hospitable reception, that I should become prolix and 

 tiresome to you and your readers, were I to go into par- 

 ticulars. I however spent a night with William P. Curd, 

 the great Berkshire hog breeder of Kentucky. His fine 

 farm is 2 1/2 miles south of the city, and is a part of the 

 original plantation originally settled by his grandfather. 

 He has about thirty full grown Berkshires and several 

 fine Irish graziers. Five of his Berkshires are imported. 

 Old Ben Shaker, a monstrous hog, is yet active and vigor- 

 ous. Mr. Lossing's old Maxima and her companions had 

 just arrived and looked full as well as could be expected 

 after so long a journey in such hot weather. Mr. C. has 

 one Berkshire barrow that will weigh near a thousand 

 pounds. He finds ready sales for pigs at $30 a pair. On 

 Thursday, Mr. Curd took his buggy and drove me up to 

 Dr. Martin's, 1 where I experienced the mortification of 

 finding him absent from home. We were however, very 

 politely received by his son, and after spending a few 

 hours among the doctor's numerous hogs and cattle, we 

 took the road in the cool of a very hot day towards Lex- 

 ington. By previous arrangement, I stopped at the de- 



1 Dr. Samuel D. Martin, Colbyville. Breeder of livestock, par- 

 ticularly hogs. Frequent contributor to Western Farmer and Gar- 

 dener. See 2:255-57 (August, 1841). 



