60 [Assembly 



isiting this farm ; but, nevertheless, they were invited to walk 

 over his grounds, and to inspect his method of farming and hus- 

 bandry. 



The first object which attracted the observation of your com- 

 mittee, was the delightful and romantic location of this farm ; it 

 descends towards the NewLurgli bay, the Higlilands, witli the 

 vast g')rge through which the Hudson river rolls itself towards 

 the ocean, is seen to great advantage from many points on Capt. 

 Robinson's domains, while on the north and east, the ranges of 

 the Green mountains, the broken lands of Putnam and Dutchess 

 counties, and a long thread of the stream above Newburgh, are 

 brought within a simultaneous vision. Steamboats, vessels, and 

 indeed the whole commerce of the Hudson, are brought directly in 

 review at Capt. Robinson's mansion; probably no location of a farm 

 in the United States, excels this in elegant and enchanting views. 



While Gen. Washington and his array lay encamped at New- 

 burgh, during the revolutionary war, their tents were said to have 

 occupied the south and eastern part of the farm. Gen. Wash- 

 ington, and many of his officers, are reported to have declared, 

 that the location of this farm, was superior to any grounds they 

 had seen. Your committee are inclined to ratify tliis opinion. 



The principal business of Capt. Robinson,is dairying ; he keeps 

 50 cows, whose milk is converted into butter. The dairy house is 

 made upon a side hill, three fourths of a mile from the river ; first, 

 a large cellar was dug out, and a floor laid in brick and mortar, 

 with an underdrain j the walls are raised in the form of a dome, 

 until they meet at the center at the top, forming a roof; in this 

 is inserted a large canopy of glass, or what is called in the decks 

 of vessels, a bull's eye ; the wliole of this structure is covered 

 with green sod, except the small space for admitting the light on 

 the top ; this forms a room mostly underground, cool and capa- 

 cious, wliere the milk is strained in vessels, daily, for making 

 cream; lower down the hill, and adjacent to the milk room, is 

 another room, or second compartment, built like the first, and 

 used fur churning ; here are placed, in an upriglit position, four 

 large l)arrel churns, into which tlie cream is daily placed, and the 

 churning is done by means of cranks, attached to a shaft, which 



