0 
VOLUME 1. 
IIOCIIESTEJU N. Y.-THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1850. 
NUMBER 50. 
/ MOORE’S RUIUI. NEW-YORKER, 
PUBI.lSHF.l) WF.KKI.y. 
Office in IliirnB’ lllock, corner of lliiffhlo nnd State 
strec't«, (entrance on State,) IlochoBtcr. 
IEjU Foil 'I'kiims, &.C., «ee luat pnge. .Pfl 
PROOKI'iSS AND IMPROVEMENT. 
NOTES OF TRAVEL. 
Havino occasion, some weeks since, to 
pass over large portions of Western New 
York, perliaps some passing notes, may not 
bo uninteresting to the general reader. 
Some years sincc,‘on our first pilgrimage 
through this country, the aspect was any 
thing but encouraging. The early settlers 
were still contending with the difficulties 
incident to a new country—the small clear¬ 
ing—the log cabin—the humble barn of 
the same rude material; all spoke but too 
plainly of the severe labors and privations 
of those who possessed the courage to make 
a home in the then almost unbroken wilder¬ 
ness of this region. 
1'he roads were new and badly worked— 
the low grounds spanned by the log cause¬ 
way, now belter known in western parlance 
as “corduroy roads.” Few school houses 
were to be met with, and those few only 
such humble edifices as were reared from 
the unhewn logs found standing near their 
location. Churches were a convenience 
almost unknown, while the library of hun¬ 
dreds of households, consisted of little more 
than the oft read Ifible and a few devotion¬ 
al and school books. 
Stout hearts and strong hands were need¬ 
ed and found, to bravo the labors and pri¬ 
vations of these early days. With the 
steady eye of faith, these hardy pioneers 
looked forward to the dawning of a better 
day, nnd with it, a rich reward for all their 
toils. They looked not in vain,—a few 
years have wrought great changes in their 
midst. The dense forests have passed away 
beneath the axeman’s vigorous stroke; the 
hillsides are covered with the waving grain, 
and the luxuriant grass,—tlie lowing of 
herds and bleating of flocks is heard on, 
every side. Commodious, and eVell elegant 
farm-houses and 8pa;.jo^,g •barns, give un- 
mistaka^J^^ evidence of the sure and ample 
l‘6Ward of well directed elForts. Valley 
nnd hill ar« furnished with the school-house 
and the church—speaking alike of the in¬ 
tellectual and moral culture and habits of 
the people. 
In that portion of Western New York 
devoted to the growing of wheat, and trav¬ 
ersed by the Erie Canal, this has been nc- 
complislied almost as if by magic; but in 
the more southern part of the State, the 
work hfvs been slower, though not the less 
sure. Allegariy, Cattaraugus and Steuben, 
since tlu; lumber has b(!en mostly disposed 
of, have proved eijual to any portion of our 
noble State for grazing and dairy jiurposes. 
Lands which were supposed to be too wet 
and cold for the practicable purpos(!S of 
agriculture, have been found, un(h;r the in¬ 
fluence of good tillage and some draiiiiirg, 
aided by the genial influence of the sun 
upon the cleared fields, to possc.ss latent en¬ 
ergies which class them among the best. 
The stock raised here is among the finest 
known in market, and we notice particular¬ 
ly, that the dairy cows appear generally 
suj)erior to those of the older dairy districts 
in lilastern New York, not excepting the 
lauded valley of the Mohawk. The cheese 
and butter of these counties, Avith that of 
Chautainiue and Wyoming, will not sutler 
by a comparison with that from any other 
j)ortion of the State, if we exclude tlic but¬ 
ter of the river counties. 
Farmers generally, in this section, devote 
considerable attention to riiading books and 
papers devoted to their profession, and as 
we believe, with increased benefit, not only 
to themselves and families, but to the aug¬ 
mented production ^nd usefulness of the 
fiu-m;—for Ave have great faith that the 
more knowledge men possess in any Awa- 
tion they choose to folloAv, the stronger ai e 
the probabilities of their success. The ex¬ 
perience and observation of every intelligent 
tiller of the soil must be of practical value, 
and these, if recorded and combined in 
books and papers, will assist others to a 
valuable fund of information, Avithout the 
toil and loss of time consumed by each one 
making the exj)eriments for himsidf. If to 
these be added the Avorks and researches of 
men skilled in the science of Agricultural 
Chemistry and Ceoloyy, we shall not be 
Avithout the hope that Agriculture at no 
distant day, may take rank as an Art. 
II. C. AV, 
LONG ISLAND LANDS. 
lilns. lluHAL Nkav-Youkeu: — I have re¬ 
ceived numerous letters from your readers, 
asking information relative to my Long 
Island lands, and wany express great sur¬ 
prise at the existence of such large tracts of 
uncultivated land there, and “ wonder how 
it is possible that land which can be made 
productive should liave been thus neglected, 
so near the best market in the world.” 
I can but say, such expressions are not 
strange, for nothing would have astonished 
me more, than the existence of this wilder¬ 
ness in what I had supposed to bo the 
(arden of America” — and the Avhole 
Island long ago under the liighset cultivation. 
But on visiting it about ton years since, 1 
found here a forest, fifty miles long, and six 
or eight miles wide, without a human hab¬ 
itation, and this great region—nearly half 
the Island, at the opening of the Long 
Island Railroad, was as new and as ^yild as 
in the days of the Indian.s, 200 years since. 
When I asked the reason of this, the reply 
was, “The land is good for nothing—it is 
barren, nnd unproductive.” And so firm 
was this belief, that any (j^uestion as to the 
or wherefore of this opinion, was re¬ 
ceived with scorn, though there Avas, and is 
un entire absence of every sign of barren¬ 
ness or sterility, over the whole region in 
(piestion. It is covered Avith vegebition— 
with trees, bushes, wild vines, and grasses 
of the most vigorous groAvth, and so deeply 
green as to be almost bluQk, in the dryest 
months of summer. 
What was most remarkable, was, that no 
one from any positive knowledge, could say 
that when cultivated in the same manner, 
the land Avould not produce like other parts 
of the Island. In regard to this I made 
thorough in([uiry. I addressed letters to 
gentleihen Avho had written of the “ great 
barrens,” asking tlie facts and authority for 
their statements—if experiments had been 
made—or attempts at cultivation — or exam¬ 
ination of the soil, and the ansAvor avhs in 
every instance “no!” I found none, Avho, 
when closely examined, pretended to knoAv 
anything about it, and all tho.se Avho liave 
given, those liong Island lands a bad n:ime, 
claim to knoAV, i.s, they do not believe any 
thing tvill grow there. 
That this biilief could have taken .such 
hold of the pulflic mind is pcrfi'ctly amazing 
—and as I became more acipiainted Avith 
the soil, climate and latent fertility of the 
Island, the more incomprehensible it a])- 
pears. I can Ainderstand how a country 
Avith the appearance and attiibutes of ster¬ 
ility; such as scanty vegetation, hard or 
rocky surface, cold, wet or boggy, with an 
inhos()ituble climate filled Avith malaria, 
should be thought unfit for settlement; but 
Avhy a country having none of these objec¬ 
tionable features—but possessing in a high 
degree every recpiisite for cultivation,— 
such as a soil of easy tillage, nearness to the 
best market, wood, “ pure nnd Avholosome 
water,” and as fine a climate as any in the 
same latitude on the continent, is more than 
I can understand. 
[ have however, no desire to mislead any 
body. I have given my oAvn opinions and 
views, and I could not under any responsi¬ 
bility, or solemnity, speak or write nearer 
the truth; it is my firm and honest convic¬ 
tion that all that I have said in favor of these 
Island lands is true, and loam Avilling nnd 
desirous that all that I say and do in regard 
to this subject should bo recorded, that time 
may determine its truth. I am no novice, 
having in early life been taught all the la¬ 
bors of the farm; many a toilsome day have 
I followed the plow, in a hard and rugged 
soil, and more than twenty yearsin the study 
and practice of medicine, and Avith Jis much 
knowledge of chemistry and geology as or¬ 
dinary men possc.ss—I may be at least en¬ 
titled to an opinion on this subject. 
To shoAV that I am not alone in my esti¬ 
mation of Long Island, or of these lands, 
please see the evidence of those who have 
personally examined the subject — men 
whose testimony Avould be, on all ordinary 
matters regarded as conclusive. 
Edoau F. Peck, M. D, 
lirookhjn, N. Y., Nov. 25, 1850. 
[For the tostirnony above referred to, and farther 
interesting particulars, see a “ Brief Account of 
the Uncultivated Lands of Long Island,” on naf’-o 
390.—Kn.s.J 
SHELTER YOUR MANURES. 
One word more on manures. Every 
agricultural paper Inis tohl u.u tliat manure 
exposed to the weather all winter, possesses 
little, if any, more than half its value. A 
farmer has used a portion of his barn—a 
btiy for instance—as a shed for his idle 
horses. Of course there was quite a collec¬ 
tion of manure Avhich seemed, by its eft'ects 
on the organs of smell, to be doubly charged 
with ammonia. The same place has been 
also used as a shelter for sheep, in which 
their feeding boxes were placed. Occasion- 
illy a little straAV was scattered, that they 
might have a clean bed. In the spring I 
helped to remoA'e the manure, and it nearly 
used me up,—certainly, it sent forth the 
most penetrating, if not the most sickening 
odor 1 remember to have encountered; but 
one load of that, I Avould prefer to tAVO of 
the weather-beaten stuff usually called ma¬ 
nure. It Avould pay fifteen per cent, on the 
expense of a thousand or two feet of lum¬ 
ber of the cheaper kind, and a days time in 
fitting u]) a shed, under Avhich the manure 
may be kept from the leac-liing storms.— 
The cost of this may be fifteen, or at most 
twenty dollars besides the work. 
If any one doubts this, let him try the 
following experiment. Almost every farmer 
has a straw stack in his yard, Avhich he 
Avishes to convert into manure. In a day 
he can set a fcAv crotches, put a fcAv rails on 
them, and cover the whole with straw to a 
depth sufficient to carry off all Avater. Then, 
instead of throAving his stable manure be¬ 
neath the shelter of the clouds, toss it under 
the shed. Keep an account of all extra 
labor, and in the spring, draw the manure 
to the field for spring crops. Measure off 
two equal patches, as nearly as may be in 
the same condition in every respect. Upon 
one put a sufficient dn.'ssing of the manure 
from the open yard; on the other a like 
(piantily from the shed. The manure from 
the yard should of course come from the 
same stable. Treat the two portions ex¬ 
actly alike, and in the fall measure the pro¬ 
duce of each, lie now has the statistics 
from Avhich to draw a conclusion for himself. 
If he choose to continue the experiment 
another year on the same ground Avithout 
manure he is at liberty to do it. 
c. of T. 
ELM-WOOD COTTAGE, NEAR ROCHESTER, N. Y. 
This beautiful specimen of Rural Archi¬ 
tecture was built by Tnos. IL Hyatt, Esi]., 
late Uonsul at Tangier, Morocco. It is sit¬ 
uated ^ short distance west of Rochester, of 
which it commands a fine view, as well as 
of the Genesee River and Mt. Hope—and 
though erected some years since, yet as a 
valuable and tasty design in the rural Gothic 
style, it Avill be of interest to our readers.— 
A personal examination of the arrangement 
and finish of this Cottage—now owned and 
occupied by Mr. H. Hauding —has led us 
to form a favorable opinion of its plan and 
construction. We think, however, that the 
design is much better adajited for a city, 
village or suburban residence, than for a 
farm — thougli it may meet the wants of 
such farmers as have a taste for the style 
and means for its gratification. 
BED 
room ‘ 
I 
tautry* 
8 XB 
JOTOHEM 
X2X1SX « 
ENTRY 
CELLAR I c U 
STAIRS 
DININO ROOM 
13-B X16 
Fihst Fi.ooit. 
Haskmknt. 
The accompanying description is extract¬ 
ed Jfrom one given by the original proprie¬ 
tor of “Elmwood” to the State Ag. Society 
—to whom drawings of the elevation and 
plans were also presented—eliciting a vote 
of thanks from that honorable body: 
“ It })cIong8 (in tlie beantirul language of Down¬ 
ing,) to tlio cImb of neatly decorated, rural Gothic 
oditiccB, abounding in carved vorgo boards and 
pendant cluHtcred chimney tops and irregular out¬ 
lines. There is something indicating a certain li¬ 
cense of architectural imagination, not to bo pre¬ 
cisely measured by the rule and siiuare, or the 
strictly utilitarian view. Now a cottage of this 
class must not in any case, bo erected on a bare 
plain, as in such a place all its picturosqueness 
would .socm out of keeping unmeaning and absurd. 
Rut let it bo partially hidden, or half concealed by 
clustering foliage, assimilated, as it were, with na¬ 
ture, by the interlacing nnd intertwining branches 
and boughs around it, and of which its ornaments 
are in some degree a repetition, and wo .shall fool 
it to be 'll perfect unison with its situation. Who¬ 
ever has soon one of those cottages, with its rich 
gables breaking out from among the intricacy of 
tall storns and shadowy foliage, will readily confess 
that ho has rarely behold anything more harmoni¬ 
ous and delightful, than the charming ollect thereby 
jiroducod. Some one has truly remarked, that the 
architecture of our dwellings is most appropriate, 
when it embodies and breathes forth a home ex¬ 
pression, a character to which wo think, the rural 
Gothic, with its quaint, indepondont, comfortable, 
and extended air, seems fully to lay claim.” 
But as to details .—The main building is 38 feet 
front, by 25 feet deep, with a roar addition one sto¬ 
ry high above the basement, and 34 foot deep by 
20 feet wide, (including the side veranda,) with a 
wash kitchen nnd wood-house underneath, 
opening out nearly on a level with the ground, 
owing to the slope of the back-ground. The 
height of the first story in the main building 
is ton foetin the clear; second story, eight foot, 
o.xcepting whore the pitch of the roof reduces 
it to six feet, only in the room from which the 
front gable projects, which is full height. The 
front veranda is about 7 by 34 feet, with steps 
Q in front and nteithorond, and lattice halluslers 
between. Tlie vostihiile is lighted by glazed 
panels in the front door; nnd light is thrown 
into tho hack hall through thoglu/od door be¬ 
tween it nnd the vestibule, and through a like 
door botwooh tho hall and tho dining-room. 
'Uho drawingrroom or parlor i.s 15 by 24 feet 
in tho clear, besides tiie hay-window, which 
is 2 1-2 feet by 8, making tho drawing-room 
17 1-2 feet wide across tho centre; this room, 
nnd also tho vostibulo are neatly corniced, and 
the latter has a hand.sonio rosette in tho centre 
of tho ceiling, from which is suspended a hall 
lamp. ’Uho pleasant bay-window is designed 
to look out upon a pretty llovvor garden on tho 
south side of the house, nnd tho view from tho 
roar window will bo ino.st charming by con¬ 
verting a portion of the roar veranda (upon 
wliicii it looks,) into a conservatory for plants; 
it will also make tho view through tlio win¬ 
dows of tho dining or living room, into it, very 
|)loasing and ngrconhlo. Tho neat, pleasant 
little library (10 by 15 feel,) is my favorite 
room, and may he used for a reception or sit¬ 
ting room, when not ncoilcd for more secluded 
purposes; it has connected with it a convenient 
clo.set or recess for books or other uses. The 
nursery, (lO by 17 feet,) is also a convenient 
room, in a (piiel, retired portion of tho house, 
with a largo closet opening into it, under tho 
stairs. The chamber stairs pass up botwdBn 
t'lo library and nursery, with a door at tho 
foot, and one between tho hall aud vostibulo, 
so that tho stairs can be made secluded for 
[irivato use or accessiblo for more public pur- 
po.ses, as circumstances or convenience may 
10 prirc—and will answer for both front and 
hack stairs. Tho doors, and all of tho wood¬ 
work in the first story of tho main jrart, and 
in the dining-room, aro painted with two good 
