November, 1908 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



421 



in the second story. It is very elaborately equipped with 

 the most approved devices. The superintendent's cottage 

 is off to one side beyond this building, and hence is in the very 

 center of the farm activity. 



The next conspicuous building in the group is the water 

 tower, a twelve-sided structure with a stone base and shingled 

 superstructure. A clock is inserted at the summit, and the 

 whole is crowned with a bell turret. The woodwork of 

 this building, as is that of the other structures on the estate, 

 is stained a dark brown. 



Beyond is the garage, built of stone, with a shingled upper 

 story and roof. The main portion contains a workshop, 

 which is most elaborately fitted up with every possible de- 

 vice needed in the repair of automobiles, while the long 

 wing contains the storehouse for the cars. 



This completes the buildings of this great group, which 

 impressively serve as an introduction to the many interests 

 of this vast estate. Only an automobile is available for a 

 rapid survey, and while some of the roads that are neces- 



bination building, containing some of the most utilitarian 

 departments of the estate. Here is the coal storage, a depart- 

 ment devoted to implement storage, blacksmith and wheel- 

 wright shop and paint shop. It also is of stone, with a 

 shingled roof. The lake is a lovely body of water, more 

 than a mile long, that twists and turns through grassed and 

 wooded borders, and thrusts about a third of its length into 

 New York State. An electric launch is conveniently at hand 

 for the exploring of its beauties. 



Another great group of buildings consists of the conserva- 

 tories, fruit houses and allied structures. These are all situ- 

 ated near the Manor House and are of glass, with founda- 

 tions of stone. The conservatory is divided into sections, 

 for the maintenance of various temperatures, and includes 

 a domed exhibition hall, in which special plants are displayed 

 from time to time. The orchid house is a separate structure, 

 as are the fruit houses, which are chiefly used for raising 

 hothouse grapes and peaches. An individual heating plant is 

 needed for these buildings in which, it need hardly be said, 



Water Tower 



Superintendent's Cottage and Office 



sary to travel on are public roads, they are, for long dis- 

 tances, bordered on both sides by Mr. Converse's lands. 

 One passes presently through the fruit and vegetable gar- 

 dens, each occupying its own side of the road. A sod plot 

 is noted next, so that if some pieces of sod are needed for 

 patching or other purposes, it may be had at once and in 

 good order. Beyond is a private nursery, maintained for 

 the raising of trees. Further on, quite hidden behind trees, 

 are immense concrete manure pits. 



A twist and a turn or two bring you to Conyers Lake. 

 To one side is the pump house, by which water is pumped 

 to the two water towers of 22,500 and 35,000 gallons 

 capacity each. A drive of three miles through Mr. Con- 

 verse's own woods begins here, affording a charming and 

 delicious excursion into the depths of nature. Across the 

 road is Conyers Lake, or rather an outlet from it, for the 

 waters of the lake are upheld by a massive masonry dam 

 and only the overflow is here visible. An old grist and 

 saw mill stood for many years at this point; it has now been 

 completely modernized and remade over and is again used 

 for the purposes for which it was built. Close by is a corn- 



some of the most interesting and certainly most beautiful 

 products of the estate are reared. One other separate build- 

 ing may be noted, and that is the house stable. It is located 

 in the woods behind the house, and while following the gen- 

 eral lines of the other structures it has a more picturesque 

 quality from its varied roof. 



A word on the management. The whole estate is under 

 the immediate direction of a superintendent, Mr. G. A. 

 Drew, a graduate of the Massachusetts Agricultural College, 

 at Amherst, who is responsible for the commercial aspect of 

 the property. Under him are a series of head men, the head 

 gardener, the constructive foreman, the head poultryman, 

 the head of the livestock department. All these men have 

 their assistants and laborers and each is responsible for the 

 work in his own department. In addition there are special 

 men engaged in special work. The head chauffeur and the 

 coachman at the private stables are separate functionaries 

 of high rank, who are directly responsible to Mr. Converse 

 himself. 



Notwithstanding the real and actual importance of the 

 Manor House, it is scarce more than an incident in the vast 



