NEW EXPERIMENTS IN AGRICULTURE.—SKETCHES OF THE WEST.—NO. III. 
35 
New Experiments in Agriculture. —We have 
frequent conversations with gentlemen on the sub¬ 
ject of agricultural experiments which they have 
made, and that are of considerable practical im¬ 
portance. The results of all such as are well 
known and thoroughly tested, we wish to spread 
before the community for the benefit of all our 
readers. Yet such is the modesty of many of our 
informants, that they seem unwilling not only to 
communicate the information over their own sig¬ 
natures, but are even reluctant to have it mention¬ 
ed in any shape. We hope all our friends will 
have done with such diffidence, and give to the 
public at once what rightfully belongs to it. No 
improvement, however minute, is without its use 
to the agricultural community, and whatever will 
save a single dollar to each farmer in the United 
States, will save millions to the nation. 
SKETCHES OF THE WEST.—NO. III. 
Lexington. —From Versailles we rode over a 
beautiful undulating country, and in a short time 
arrived at Lexington. This is a very handsome 
town, of about 6,000 inhabitants, and presents the 
appearance of considerable opulence. The streets 
are regularly laid out, a branch of the Elkhorn 
meandering through the town, and in its clear 
course adding much to the beauty and variety of 
the place. A richer or more favorable agricultural 
district can not be found than that which surrounds 
Lexington in a circle of 60 miles. Added to this, 
it is healthy, and settled by a highly intelligent 
and enterprising population. In fact, the people 
here consider it as approaching Eden, and it is 
very agreeable to hear them amplify on its capa¬ 
bilities, which they do, and very justly, with an 
eloquence that can not be gainsaid. The Ken¬ 
tuckian yields to none in love of his country, and 
the western hemisphere may be travelled over in 
vain in search of one more deserving of being 
loved. 
Ashland, Seat of the Hon. Henry Clay.— 
This beautiful seat and superb plantation, of one 
of the most gifted and celebrated men of America, 
is about one and a half miles from Lexington, and 
is approached by an excellent Macadam road lead¬ 
ing directly by it. We called there in company 
with a nephew of Mr. Clay, Mr. Pindell of Lex¬ 
ington ; who took us by a circuitous road, first 
showing us his own fine plantation, a little beyond 
that of Ashland. The buildings on it are hand¬ 
some and commodious, and there was a choice 
collection of stock of all kinds, particularly of blood 
horses. One of the fillies, the name of which we 
have forgotten, struck us as being as promising an 
animal of her kind as we saw in Kentucky. Mr. 
P. had repeatedly exhibited her at their agricultu¬ 
ral shows, and she had invariably carried off the 
first prize over all competitors. 
A division-fence separates the property of Mr. 
Clay and Mr. Pindell, which we passed by a wide 
gate and came immediately into the woodland, or 
more properly speaking, park pastures of Ashland, 
the trees of which are mostly the reservations of 
the original forest. They are grand and majestic 
in their appearance, and give a dignity, comfort, 
and beauty to the landscape, which can not be too 
much admired. It was still in the month of Jan¬ 
uary, but the winter being a mild one, the grass 
was yet green, and a fine lot of blood horses, and 
Short-Horn cattle were out feeding, and looking as 
fat and sleek as need be. The show of these, Mr. 
Pindell informed me, was not so good as formerly, 
Mr. Clay having been tempted, when hign prices 
prevailed, to part with the greater proportion of 
his choicest animals. After taking a full view of 
the plantation, we came round to the stables, the 
most celebrated incumbent of which was a large 
French Jack, named Royal. He was selected by 
Mr. Henry Clay, Jr., when he visited France, and 
was bred at Poitou, near the birthplace of the cel¬ 
ebrated Montesquieu. Whether from this circum¬ 
stance Royal has inherited any of the legal talent 
of the profound jurist we are unable to say, he not 
yet being gifted with the power of speech to ex¬ 
plain himself, as was Balaam’s ass of old; but 
what, perhaps, is of more utility where stationed 
is, he has the faculty of stamping his superior size 
and strength on a numerous progeny of mules, 
to the great benefit of the country around him. 
When we called at Ashland, Mr. Clay was 
passing the last of his term at Washington in his 
senatorial duties; we, therefore, missed the ad¬ 
vantage of seeing him at home on his farm, where 
he is universally acknowledged to rank as high as 
in the councils of the nation. He has ever been 
foremost in every good word and work in agricul¬ 
ture in Kentucky, and perhaps few have done as 
much to assist in developing and improving the 
resources of his native state. No one was more 
ardent and persevering in the introduction and 
growing of hemp than Mr. Clay; in the introduc¬ 
tion also of improved stock, and all other measures 
calculated to promote agriculture, which, although 
well known at home, yet, on account of his bril¬ 
liant forensic talents, his labors and example in 
this department, have in a measure been over¬ 
shadowed and kept hid from the nation. 
