No. 133.] 45 



FARM OF ROBERT B. COLEMAN. 



Your committee respectfully report, that on the 25th day of 

 JuDe last they visited the farm of Robert B. Coleman, Esq., of 

 the Astor House, at Fiatlands, L. I., situated about 8 miles from 

 the city of New- York. 



This farm contains about 51 acres, besides some 20 or 30 acres 

 of salt marsh land, mostly lying under water, but producing a 

 large growth of swail or coarse grass. It is bounded on the north 

 and east by the form of Elijah H. Kimball, Esq.; on the south- 

 east' side it fronts on salt water, forming a portion of Jamaica 

 Bay. The soil of the farm is apparently of a late formation, 

 composed of a rich sandy loam, and along the salt water shore a 

 handsome breadth of black peat soil of an unknown depth pre- 

 sents itself Mr. Coleman informed your committee that he pur- 

 chased this farm in the fall of 1845 ; that he paid $129 per acre ; 

 the salt grass land was thrown in the bargain ; that the condition 

 of the larm when he purchased it was deplorable indeed, without 

 a fence to protect it, or a dwelling house which was habilable ; 

 the soil was full of hedges and noxious shrubs and weeds. 



This iarm, when subdued, is easy of cultivation, few, or no 

 stones are found upon it. 



Since the farm has come into his possession, he has erected 

 .580 feet of iron wire fence, the cost of which was $1.80 

 per rod; 7,000 feet of picket fence at the cost of $1.25 per 

 rod. He has put up 400 feet of glass frames for hot beds, in 

 which are raised early lettuce, cucumbers, and other vegetables. 

 He has also erected 300 feet of arbor for grapes, ten feet high, 

 and eigl-it feet wide, which is now covered mostly with young aud 

 thrifty vines of the Isabella and Catawba varieties ; there are now 

 growing 150 young vines and plants. The dwelling house has 

 undergone many alterations and repairs. In front of his house is 

 a young and elegant grove of shade trees, which not only afford 

 a pleasant retreat for his family and guests in the summer, but is 

 visited hourly by birds, whicli render it vocal by their songs. 

 Your committee witnessed several flights of songsters into this 



