362 
TO OUR READERS. 
TO OUR READERS. 
We cannot close this last number of our tenth 
volume, which terminates our editorial duties 
for the present, without expressing our obliga¬ 
tions to such of our readers as have accompa¬ 
nied us through our ten years of editorial labor, 
and favored us from time to time with their 
counsel and correspondence. We trust that 
while thus engaged, they have received as well 
as imparted instruction of the highest utility to 
our agricultural interests. It has been for the ad¬ 
vantage of our common country we have thus 
labored ; and while we and they should consider 
it a duty to have contributed our mite towards 
advancing this great cause of improved agricul¬ 
ture, we should feel that it is also a privilege to 
do something for the benefit of our fellow be¬ 
ings, and most especially in that interest, which 
lies at the very foundation of human sustenance 
and national prosperity. 
This obligation still rests upon us, and we 
would that it could be rightly appreciated by 
all; that every intelligent farmer throughout 
the Union would feel it as a duty he had yet 
to discharge, and act fully up to that belief; and 
that he should contribute both by precept and 
example, towards enlightening his co-laborers 
in their responsible occupations. Then, and 
not till then, will the agricultural papers of this 
country combine that amount of interest and 
information which cannot fail to enlist the cordial 
sympathy and support of every intelligent tiller 
of the soil. In the mean time, we trust that 
every one who feels his obligations as a man 
and as a patriot, will sustain the agricultural 
press, and promote agricultural improvements 
by every means in his power. In addition to 
communicating such information as may be 
interesting and useful, each should not only 
subscribe for one or more papers, but should 
induce their friends and neighbors to do the 
same. 
We have endeavored, in whatever direction 
our energies have been employed, to elevate 
the profession, elucidate and improve the prac¬ 
tice, and meliorate the condition of American 
farmers. We are happy to add, there is a large 
and increasing aggregate of talent throughout 
the country, directed to these objects; but our 
own efforts, with those of many others combined, 
will fail of producing the desired results, unless 
they are heartily seconded by the mass of the 
community for whose benefit they are directed. 
However these efforts may be received, we shall 
continue to make them. We mean to sow the 
seed broad-cast, whether the crop comes this 
year or the next, or is postponed to the far-oft 
future. We are fully assured it must germinate 
hereafter, if not now. We are content that it 
bide its time, until genial rains and kindly sun¬ 
shines nourish it into life. Others, more fortu¬ 
nate than we, may reap the fruits. But, how¬ 
ever near or remote this result may be, we shall 
hope at least, to merit, and perhaps receive as 
our sole reward, the title of the Farmer’s Friends- 
VILLA OF MR. SARGENT. 
Among the beautiful country places at which 
we have occasionally called, there are none 
superior, for its size, to Wodenethe, the villa of 
Henry Winthrop Sargent. It is situated on the 
east bank of the Hudson River, at the foot of 
the Beacon Mountains, a mile or more south of 
Fishkill Landing. The natural scenery here is 
unsurpassed in the United States; and Mr. Sar¬ 
gent, with the tasteful eye of a designer of fine 
landscapes, has taken every advantage of it in 
laying out his grounds. He commenced only 
about ten years ago, on a poor soil, and in the 
midst of a thick natural wood, covering the 
greater part of his domain. As much of this as 
was necessary for his buildings, lawn and gar¬ 
den, he immediately removed ; and cut out such 
openings in the remainder,as were demanded to 
give him the unrivaled views of an extensive 
landscape, blending thick forests and wide wa¬ 
ters, high craggy mountains and deep valleys, 
populous towns and a well cultivated country 
around. 
The buildings here are elegant and spacious, 
and surrounded with as beautiful and well kept 
lawns, as it is possible to have in the arid sum¬ 
mer climate of America. We asked Mr. Sargent 
how he got the turf so soft and elastic, and the 
herbage so thick and fine. He informed us that 
it was owing mainly to his 'pasturing it with sheep. 
This is easily accomplished without injury to 
the flowers or shrubbery, as they are protected 
by a handsome iron hurdle fence, which is 
easily removed from place to place, as required 
upon the grounds. We noticed some fine cows 
as well as sheep in the park. Animals of any 
kind improve the grass of lawns and parks; 
and, aside from this, are pleasing objects in the 
landscape. We only wonder they are not 
oftener found here in America. In Europe, a 
park is considered bare, and in a measure des¬ 
olate, without them. 
The great feature of Wodenethe, to the utili¬ 
tarian, is its extensive gardens. The soil was 
originally poor; and the first step Mr. Sargent 
took to enrich it, was to trench the whole space 
