118 Editorial Miscellany. 



buttery fruit, of honeyed sweetness, and of size and beauty that would 

 feast the eye and palate of an epicure. — M. W. Stevens, in Boston 

 Journal. 



An individual owning several thousand acres of fertile soil, devoted 

 exclusively to legitimate farming purposes, tends in a great degree to 

 retard the development of rural improvements of a social and elegant 

 character. It is well known that a large portion of the rich- valley of 

 Genesee is owned by James Wadsworth, and as a consequence there is 

 a lamentable absence of that species of improvement which indicates the 

 presence of progressive influence. This is more particularly discernable 

 in the non-existence of those beautiful dwellings which bedeck other 

 portions of the State. To give some conception of the extent of this 

 gentleman's possessions, we annex an extract from a letter to the Albany 

 Journal : 



James Wadsworth owns about 8000 acres of land in this town, as much 

 more in Gencseo, about 6000 in the adjoining town of Kush, 5000 or 

 0000 in the town of Caledonia, and a great many thousands in other 

 towns in this and other counties. And it is nearly all good land — the 

 best in the State — and constantly increasing in value. He doesn't sell, 

 but is fur ever buying. The effect is perceptible. There is a marked 

 absence of rural taste, so generally inseparable from agricultural pros- 

 perity, and so important to domestic comtort, if not to individual morality 

 and happiness. While there is no large landholder in the world more 

 libei-al, wise or intelligent than Mr. Wadsworth, it would be far better for 

 the country, and incalculably better for the smaller landholders, if the 

 lands owned by him were owned by two hundred thrifty poor men, who 

 would live upon their small farms and contribute to the general architec- 

 tural, horticultural and educational improvement of the country. There 

 is a melancholy absence of those substantial farm-houses and tasty appur 

 tenances so noticeable in other portions of western New- York. It is 

 almost painful to look out upon the broad, prolific fields which constitute 

 one of the features of this magnificent valley, and find so few dwellings 

 embraced in the view. It would be more picturesque, as well as more in 

 accordance with Avhat has been found to be most in harmony with the 

 eeneral good, were it otherwise. But, so long as this vast estate is in the 

 hands of its present enlightened proprietor, there will be but little cause 

 of complaint. 



All of Mr. Wadsworth's land is rented, not leased, and rented for but 

 a single year. This has been the rule since about 1840. Every lease is 

 renewed every year — a rule which gives Mr. W. entire control of his 

 property, and its cultivation and management. A shiftless tenant stands 

 no chance for a re-lease. And not only is this rule strictly adhered to, 

 but Mr. W. dictates the character of the crops to be sowed in the several 

 fields of each farm — which shall be sowed to wheat, which shall be 



