1878.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST 
461 
A Nebraska Stock Farm. 
Our associate, who is now iu the West, thinking 
It would interest farmers elsewhere to see how 
those who are occupying the newer States arrange 
their buildings and lay out their farms, selected as a 
typical example, the stock farm of T. H. Leavitt, 
Esq., at Riverside, Nebraska. This seemed to be 
home-bred, though all of choice families and pure 
blood. There are about as many sheep, Cotswolds, 
beautiful animals ; and about 250 head of cattle. Of 
these, upwards of 50 head are Shorthorns of pure 
blood, selected with care from noted herds in 
Canada and various States, from Massachusetts 
and New York, to Missouri and Colorado. The 
noble bull, “7th Baron Morley, No. 18,954” (pure 
Princess), which stands at the head of the herd. 
Building material is here somewhat more expensive 
than at the East, but can hardly be rated high, 
while labor of all kinds is low. Feed for 6tock is 
very low; hay at §1.25 to §2.50 per ton ; corn, 15 @ 
20c. per bushel, and other things in proportion; 
while the products of the dairy, the stable, and the 
pens, command very nearly eastern prices. The 
brief narrative of this farm and the facts we have 
given, may serve to show that the West has sub- 
so beautifully situated, as well as carefully plan¬ 
ned, that he sends a ground plan of a portion of 
the estate, which will give a better idea of the 
relative positions of the buildings, yards, etc., than 
would the general view alone. This view, from 
sketches and photographs, was taken from a 
point opposite the lower right-hand corner of 
the plan. The following is a brief history of 
the estate, which is situated three miles south¬ 
west from Lincoln. 
In 1865, thirteen 
years ago, an enter¬ 
prising young man 
from Michigan lor 
cated on this spot. 
Within a range of 
5 or 6 miles, where 
now there is a po¬ 
pulation of well 
nigh 10,000, about 
a dozen others 
had made similar 
claims of Govern¬ 
ment Land. At 
that time, a baud 
of Pawneelndians, 
300 strong, were en¬ 
camped just west 
of them, and deer, 
antelope, wolves 
and other large 
game were abun¬ 
dant. Six years 
3ater, the property 
passed into the 
hands of a Ver¬ 
mont farmer, and 
the present pro¬ 
prietor is a Mas¬ 
sachusetts’ man; 
and several of the females, were bred iu the State 
of New York. The buildings are substantial and 
commodious, neat and attractive in style, and ar¬ 
ranged and fitted with every convenience for the 
thorough, economical, and profitable prosecution of 
the stock business. The product of the dairy for 
the past season has been about 20,000 lbs. of cheese, 
of quality which compares favorably with the pro¬ 
duct of our best eastern factories. The region is 
stantial attractions for eastern men and eastern 
capital, no less than that the East and West have 
common interests which are worthy of more con¬ 
sideration thau we are able to give them in this place. 
PLAN OF THE BUILDINGS, YARDS, ETC., ON THE STOCK FARM OF T. H. LEAVITT, RIVERSIDE, NEBRASKA. 
7he principal buildings are designated. The pens in the piggery open into small yards, which communicate with the larger 
yards at each side. In front of the barn is a fountain, siirrounded by a fence and forming a circular yard for calves. 
the original pioneer owner being now a Government well settled, highly cultivated, and well stocked. 
The last wolf about here was killed in 1876. 
Prairie Chickens, Plover, Quail, Wild Geese, Ducks 
and Brandt, in their season, are still abundant. 
officer at Washington. The farm comprises 250 acres. 
The stock, aside from work teams, consists of about 
250 Berkshire swine, some imported, but mostly 
Time to Select Breeding Stock of Poultry. 
—The surest way to get good healthy chicks, and 
the best eggs for setting, is to select the breeding 
stock early in the season, before they are mature. 
A flock selected 
in November, and 
given quarters 
where they can 
choose the house 
or open air at will, 
growing up to¬ 
gether and natur¬ 
ally drifting into 
productive life, arc 
always found to 
produce the best 
progeny, being 
more even in type 
and color. With 
such timely selec¬ 
tion, and care in 
the feeding not to 
let the stock get 
too fat, nor on the 
other hand too 
poor in flesh, are 
among the secrets 
in securing fine 
chickens. The 
breeder must have 
perception enough 
to know when his 
fowls are over or 
under fed. Old 
and young poultry 
together, as food suf- 
should not be cooped 
ficient to keep the young, growing pullets in a lay¬ 
ing condition, would so fatten the old ones that 
they would lay but little and perhaps not at alL 
