588 



THE AMERICAN FARMER 



the most remote idea of ever engaging in farming or stock-raising. The land around the 

 house needed to be cleared and laid out, natural features of beauty and interest were to be 

 preserved and improved, and this gave him pleasant employment. The work grew in inter 

 est and importance under his hands, and finally so absorbed his attention tnat he may almost 

 be said to have become infatuated with the love of it. 



It is hardly to be supposed that an active business man, having both capital arid enthu 

 siasm to apply to farming, could find employment for his faculties on a grass farm of sixty- 

 six acres. Field after field was cleared of stone, new walls were laid, old ones removed, and 

 very soon the work done made it obvious that soon there would be little more to do. There 

 fore adjoining properties were purchased and added to the farm, so that now Echo Farm 

 contains nearly 400 acres, which lie mostly in one compact body. A great part of this is under 

 thorough tillage, and that which is not even now laid down to grass, both for mowing and 

 for pasture, is rapidly being prepared for these uses. Miles of massive stone walls enclosing 

 lawn-like meadows, pastures thoroughly cleared of stones, and laid off in great regularity, 



ETHEL STODDARD. DAISY ROBINSON. 



IRENE STODDARD. EDITH PERKINS. 



GROUP OF YEARLING JERSEY HEIFERS. 



define its boundaries, while its rolling and cultivated surface is diversified by patches of 

 woodland. 



The introduction of an improved system of agriculture, and the application of the famil 

 iar principles of business to farming, necessitated new buildings in addition to those bought 

 with the several farms now united. In 1873, therefore, Mr. Starr erected a barn 66x25 feet; 

 in 1874, a barn 100x40, and in 1875, a barn 191x35; and in 1876, these were not only all in 

 use, but full. 



In the perspective view of the buildings, the conspicuous building is what is called the 

 74 barn, entered by the double approach or driveway, and adjoining this, upon the left, is 

 the 75 barn, while the 73 barn occupies a similar position upon the right of the main, 

 or 74 barn, but is not attached to it. These three buildings form three sides of the barn 

 yard. They are of pine, upon massive granite foundations, for the most part two feet wide, 

 laid in cement, rising from a base three feet wide laid in grouting, while under-d rains carry off 

 any water which might otherwise reach the foundations. In fact, the masonry of the founda 

 tion-walls, and of the massive 30-foot approach, is like that of a fortification. The latter 



