AN EXCURSION ON THE HUDSON. 



LETTER II. 

 l^R Fessenden — 



Dear Sir — The mansion liouse at Hyde Park 

 is elevated about 200 feet above the surface of 

 tlie river. With its two wings it presents a 

 noble front of 136 feet, and is two stories above 

 the basement. The centre or principal building, 

 has a piazza on botli fronts: the west front is open 

 to the Hudson, and the east looks over a spacious, 

 beautiful lawn towards the turnpike from New 

 York to Albany. The hall, and several apart- 

 ments above and below, are warmed by heated 

 air from a coal furnace in the basement story. 

 The south wing contains a rich and well selected 

 library, consisting of 4 or 5000 vols, purchased 

 at the expense of 820,000. Here is to be found 

 a collection of works iu every branch of litera- 

 ture. In no private library is there a more com- 

 plete collection of European and American |)eri- 

 odical Journals; scarcely a production of merit 

 of this description, but may be found in this 

 collection, an(l the number is constantly increas- 

 ing; The Dr has also in his hall and gallery, a 

 valuable collection of paintings, by the first artists 

 both ancient and modern. At a proper distance 

 north from the house, is situated the coach house 

 and stable, built of stone in a chaste style of 

 Grecian simplicity, and is 61 feet in front by 40 

 deep. At an equal distance south, is to be seen 

 the green house and hot house, a spacious edifice, 

 constructed with great architectural taste and 

 elegance, and well calculated for the preservation 

 of the most tender exotics that require [)rotection 

 in our climate. It is composed of a centre and 

 two wings, extending 110 feet iu front and from 

 17 to 20 feet deep. One apartment is appro- 

 priated to a large collection of pines. Among 

 the rich dis|(Iay of rare shrubs and plants, are the 

 magnolia graudiflora, the splendid strelitzia, the 

 fragrant farnesiana, and a beautiful tree of the 

 Fieus elastica or Indian rubber, about 8 feet high, 

 5 years old. Contiguous to the green house is an 

 extensive ornamental garden, in which is arrang- 

 ed in fine style, a beautiful variety of trees, shrubs 

 and flowers ; among which stands that glory of 

 the forest, the magnolia glauca, bearing large 

 wliite flowers, perfuming the atmosphere with a 

 delightful fragrance. The forest trees which sur- 

 round the domicile are identically the natives 

 which are found in our forest; some of the oaks 

 arc a century in age, and all are large and so 

 grouped and intermingled over the lawn, as to 

 present at every step the most fantastic views that 

 can attract the pencil of the artist. From the 

 piazza, and from the bank on the west side of 

 the house wo have a charming view, extending 

 the opposite side of the river, of the blue summits 

 of the Catskill mountains, and many gentlemen's 

 seats, and cultivated farms. Whether indeed we 

 direct the eye across the river, or glance over its 

 surface north or south, we have a variegated land- 

 scape embracing the borders of the noble Hudson, 

 from 20 to 40 miles in extent. In either direction 

 the curling colunms of smoke announce the ap- 

 proach of the Fidton arks, their decks covered 

 with tn assembled multitude, and impelled with 

 astonishing speed, the bosom of the stream seem- 

 ing to swell with pride as if conscious of the 

 ▼alue of the burden it sustains. From the house, 

 gravelled walks diverge and extend in opposite 

 directions netuly half a mile, exhibiting a diver- 

 sified scenery of hills and dales, now descending 



N EW ENGLAND FARMER. 



loping declivity on the verge of a precipice, 

 again ascending to a commanding plain, opening 

 a scene of unrivalled beauty. At the termination 

 of these romantic walks fanciful pavilions are 

 erected, where visitors may contemplate a capti- 

 vating display of nature's magnificence in these 

 regions of wonder. From the turnpike road 

 there are two gates of entrance into the premises, 

 about half a mile from each other, and a porter's 

 lodge is connected with each gate. The north 

 lodge is 19 by 31 feet, with a portico projecting 

 over the north and south fronts, each supported 

 by 4 Grecian Doric columns. Two wings project 

 from the sides, which serve as lodging rooms. 

 This little building has been much and deservedly 

 admired for its architectural beauty. The en- 

 trance gate is finished in a very neat and impos- 

 ing stylo of architecture. Mr Thompson of New 

 York,' is the skilful architect em|)loyed in the con- 

 struction of these buildings. The south lodge, 

 connected with a neat gateway, with the improve- 

 ments of the surrounding grounds, present a very 

 picturesque appearance. This is the most com- 

 manding point from which to view advantageously 

 the mansion, green house, stable, and out houses, 

 which appear at considerable distance from each 

 other in the extensive lawn. This avenue to the 

 mansion is over a stone bridge, crossing a rapid 

 stream precipitated from the milldams above, and 

 falls in a cascade below. The winding of the 

 road, the varied surface of the ground, the bridge, 

 and the falling of the water, continually vary the 

 prospect and render it a never tiring scene. 



AgncuUure. — Hyde Park estate consists of ^ 

 tract of about 800 acres of excellent land, border- 

 ing on the Hudson one mile and half, and extend- 

 ing one mile back from the river ; the turnpike 

 from New York to Albany passing through the 

 premises. The farm comprises every variety of 

 soil and aspect, and has not been exhausted by 

 cultivation. It is well wooded and supplied with 

 numerous unceasing springs of pure water. A 

 creek also meanders through the farm, furnishing 

 falls well calculated for manufactories and mill 

 seats, and being dammed at proper places, forms 

 excellent pickerel and trout ponds. The 500 

 acres under culture yield large crops of hay and 

 grain, and the soil is adapted to the jjroduction 

 of every article of luxury and convenience which 

 man can desire. l)r Hosack commences his 

 labors with characteristic ardor, and evinces a 

 fine taste for agricultural pursuits. His improve- 

 ments are not only in the buildings he has erected, 

 and the embeUishments of the pleasure grounds, 

 but in the more solid operations of the farm, as 

 levelling hills and precipices, opening roads and 

 avs-nues, erecting briilges and turning water 

 courses. Many acres of rugged, hilly land hither- 

 to deemed almost inaccessible to the plough or 

 not worth the labor, have this season been subdued, 

 the stones worked into wall and the soil sowed 

 with rye. 



Slock. — This consists of short horned Durham, 

 Devonshire, Alderney and Holderness, all recently 

 imported. His flock of sheep consisting of COO, 

 are Merino, riaxonand Bakewell. Besides these, 

 the Dr has lately imported the Welsh, so highly 

 celebrated for its mutton. Having been careful 

 to introduce the best breeds, he is no less attentive 

 in preserving them unmixed, by which he renders 

 an important service to other cultiyators. In 

 front of his house, on the lower bank of the river, 

 he has a park stocked with deer, and at present 



Dec. 3, 1830- 



accompanied by 16 Saxon bucks and a pair of 

 Surat goats. The buildings, comprising the farm 

 yard, consists of barns, stables, low sheds, calf 

 and sheep pens, cider house, having a cellar to 

 contain 100 barrels, and wagon house forming 

 the three sides of a hollow square of about 175 

 feet. The centre of the yard is dished out for 

 the manure, over which is erected a covering in 

 the form of an umbrella, about 40 feet diameter, 

 to prevent evaporation, and serve as a tem|)orary 

 shelter for cattle and a roost for poultry, &o. 

 The excavation is so contriveil as to keep the 

 yard dry, and no manure is \>asted, the liquid 

 part being conveyed by a covered drain into the 

 kitchen garden, and nursery. The sheep yard 

 is located between the barn and garden, and a 

 spacious room is provided beneath the barn for 

 the ewes and their young when their condition 

 requires a shelter. The hog pens are admirably 

 alculated for the accommodation of about 70 

 swine, and to keep the different breeds separate, 

 having a cooking ai)[)aratus in the rear. Tlie/ar?» 

 house stands a small distance, from the farm yard 

 I is well arranged for the [lurpose intended. 

 The cellar is devoted to the purpose of a dairy, 

 being floored with stone flagging and the win- 

 dows wired to exclude flies. On entering the 

 dairy I was struck with a ;jiew of a novel process 

 of butter churning. This operation is performed 

 by a single dog. The animal is placed on a hori- 

 zontal wheel, the surface of which is covered 

 with coarse cloth to receive his claws, he is tied 

 by his neck, and by pawing with all his feet, the 

 wheel turns under him and moves a crank and 

 shaft connected with the churndash. The dog 

 docs not complain of his labor on the tread wheel, 

 knowing that he is to be well fed as soon as tlie 

 butter is produced, but he evidently appeared 

 sheepish. 



Apiary. — During my visit at Hyde Park, by 

 request of Dr H. I superintended the constructioD> 

 of an apiary upon my improved plan. The house' 

 is 30 feet long and two tiers in height and will! 

 contain nearly 40 hives. The hives are furnishedl 

 with two sliding boxes or drawers in the uppen litaa, 

 part, glazed in front, but shielded from light 

 they are withdrawn in the rear of the hives, audi ^f 

 this affords the greatest facility for taking thie> udil 

 honey without destroying tiie bees. The closn iMeJ 

 house secures the hives from tlie ravages of tItS* iitiitt. 

 Bee-moth aiul from the wjaiher, and may he» 'ms 

 opened Occasionally fo? TentilKtion. It may vritli! ioiiig 

 truth be assertod that this plant has been foundl liigliKt 

 by experience to posBsss advantages superior ttM feilld 

 any other. Dr H. is now in possessioN of a family! sijfc 

 of bees without stings which were sent to Dr» itimi,; 

 Mitchell from Mexico. He kepps Ihem in hid njiij) 

 green house that they may enjoy an atniospliciw uirjj 

 .similar in temperature to that in thttir nativw j. Tli 

 climate. There is on the the stream belonging) ntj j 

 to Dr H. the workshop of Mr Hale, the ingenious tsan] 

 inventor of the patent rotary pump , which I 

 inventor assured me will discharge 160 gallons 

 minute, and will elevate a column of water 

 the altitude of .300 feet, which he had engagi 

 to perform for a gentleman in New York. Tl 

 base of the machinery appears ta consist o1 

 circular box of brass, or other metal, furnishi 

 with fly valves, but no description from m« ci 

 do justice to the subject. This pi:mp may 

 applied to ships or fire engines. Dr H. has t 

 of them in operation, at his green house a; 

 bathing room. On inspectiou I find that tl 



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