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CONNECTICUT FARMING — REVERSE OF THE PICTURE. 
CONNECTICUT FARMING— REVERSE OF THE 
PICTURE. 
It will be recollected that we published some 
letters of Mr. Robinson, last fall, which gave 
slight offence, because, as was alledged, he se- 
lected an extreme case or two of negligence and 
bad farming to be found, and exposed them to 
the public gaze. We are certain his object was 
only to awaken a spirit of improvement among 
the cultivators of his native state, and not to rid- 
icule, nor find fault with things as he found them. 
We now give another letter of his, in which a 
brighter shade is given to the picture. — Eds. 
Having been pent up in the close atmosphere 
of the city for some weeks, after my return from 
my southern tour, I felt as though the sight of 
something green, besides the scanty gi*ass in the 
park, or doubtful hue of the trees, would be 
soothing to a spirit that loves the green hills 
and sweet air of the country, I started off in 
pursuit of such a scene. It so chanced I took 
the New-Haven Railroad. As we passed Nor- 
walk, I thought of the farm of Mr Stevens, of 
which you published a notice in April, and 
would gladly have called to look at his improve- 
ments, if I had known he was at home. How- 
ever, I concluded to defer that, and rolled on- 
ward, noting that even Connecticut farmers are 
becoming sensible that the rocky hills and grav- 
elly knolls may be made more productive, by a 
more judicious system of cultivation. 
As we approached the busy, bustling, beauti- 
ful little city of Bridgeport, I discovered about a 
mile off to the left, a singular-looking structure 
which a friend informed me was a Connecticut 
farm house, as it was the residence of Farmer 
Barnum. I determined at once to make him a 
visit. ' No doubt many of your readers, as they 
have caught a glimpse of this most remarkable 
edifice, as it shows its head, or rather heads, 
among the trees upon the plain, back of the 
town, have wondered what prince, or eastern 
nabob, had come here to the land of steady 
habits, and gambrel-roof houses, and erected 
a palace. If curiosity should prompt him to 
take a nearer view, he will be still more sur- 
prised ; for he will see a building unlike any 
other in America. It is three stories high, be- 
sides the basement, in the central part, and 
crowned with a dome, somewhat like the capi- 
tol at Washington, which is supported by lesser 
ones, and minarets upon the corners of the main 
building and wings, after the style of some ori- 
ental palace. The entire front is 120 feet, in- 
cluding at each end, a half circular conservatory, 
with dome roofs, which give a beautiful finish 
to the wings. The front portico, with its costly 
carving, and ornamental finish, has a very in- 
viting look of enjoyment in a warm day, while 
that in the rear, (enclosed with glass,) is equally 
so, in a cool morning ; for there, the invalid, 
shielded from the wind, may take a long morn- 
ing walk in the bright sun. Strangers some- 
times think the appearance of the house fantas- 
tic, and perhaps conclude the owner is some 
vain fellow, who has inherited a fortune to spend, 
and is in a fair way of doing the job rapidly. 
Besides the house, he sees a most costly con- 
servatory, or grapery, and gardener's cottage, 
carriage house, stables, and barn, with little 
temples, summer houses, and other necessary 
structures, all wearing their domes and minarets 
in perfect keeping with the principal building, 
and showing an apparent expenditure of money 
beyond the means of ordinary mortals. How 
mistaken in all his conclusions. The proprie- 
tor, is no other prince nor nabob than the some- 
what celebrated P. T. Barnum, owner of the 
New- York and Philadelphia Museums ; who has 
made his wealth by his own exertions, and is 
freely spending it in beautifying and improving 
the soil of his native land. Instead of being unap- 
proachable, he and his family appear just as all 
well-cultivated farmers' families should appear; 
affluent, without that ostentation that makes 
themselves and guests uncomfortable. Mrs. B. 
is a woman " who careth after her household," 
seeing with her own eyes that all things are in 
order; even the kitchen, the most important 
room in every house, is . so kept that a look 
into it will not sicken one of the meals prepared 
there. 
It is needless to describe the interior of this 
"Connecticut farm house," only to say it is 
planned with attention to comfort and conve- 
nience ; and though richly furnished, not too 
much so for such a mansion. It has several 
things that some others should have, one of 
which is, a well-selected library. In this, we 
noticed complete sets of the old English divines, 
the classic, English, French and German histo- 
ries, and all the best works on agriculture. The 
walls of the rooms and passages are ornamented 
with choice pictures and engravings. Bath 
rooms with hot and cold water, and shower 
baths serve to purify the body, and that tends 
to purify the mind. Bedrooms, as they always 
should be, spacious and airy. There is a spa- 
cious dining room, and rich table furniture; yet, 
the style of living and every-day habits of the 
family are such as might be expected where 
good sense directs. An iron fence that cost 
$5,000, besides the stone foundation, adorns the 
front of the lawn. Outside of this, a row of ma- 
ples, an American tree, that is very ornamental. 
A grassy lawn and carriage road, with a pro- 
fusion of shrubbery and flowers, and newly- 
planted forest trees, beautify the grounds. Fur- 
ther back, is a handsome young orchard of 
choice fruit. Behind the barn and stables, runs 
a little brook that feeds the fish pond, which, 
with its little island, forms an ornamental fea- 
ture in the rear of the house. I^ond this, a 
field which bore a " premium crop of Indian 
corn last year." Grazing upon rich pastures, 
are a couple of superior cows, that furnish the 
family with plenty of rich milk, cream, and but- 
ter, home made; and in the pens, not in front of 
the house, are some good pigs and porkers, fur- 
nished with a provision of swamp muck and 
trash fox making manure, indicating the knowl- 
edge of the proprietor, that nothing but manure 
is wanted to renovate the worn-out lands of 
Connecticut. This lot contains seventeen acres, 
for which he paid $12,000, and rumor says, upon 
the house, grounds, and furnishing, $200,000 
