82 
THE CULTIVATOR 
giving not more than four or five pounds per week, and 
others ten to twelve. In most dairies, it is reasonable to 
believe that, if all the cows were equal in quality to the 
best in the herd, the quantity of butter would he increased 
at least one-third. But suppose attention to the breed, 
or constitutional qualities of cows, should result in an 
increase of only one pound per week for each cow in the 
state, for six months of the year,—it would give a yearly 
increase of 25,986,740 pounds, which at only twelve and 
a-half cents per pound, would give the immense annual 
return of $3,248,382§. When it is considered that this 
is but for one state alone, some idea may he had of the 
vast benefits which would result to the whole country, 
from an improvement that might readily he attained in 
milch cows. 
The systematic breeding of cattle with reference to the 
dairy, or with that as a 'primary object, has scarcely been 
attempted in this country, until within a late period, and 
indeed has not been extensively practiced in Great Bri¬ 
tain,—the great aim of the most eminent breeders hav¬ 
ing generally been the development of the fattening prin¬ 
ciple, beef being in England an object of more conse¬ 
quence than butter and cheese. It is. however, gratify¬ 
ing to see that the establishment of breeds for the dairy 
is now beginning to be regarded as essential to the pro¬ 
gressive improvement of farm husbandry, and it cannot 
he doubted that the proper application of the laws of 
animal economy, w r ill be attended with as great success 
in this department, as has been realised in breeding for 
other purposes. 
A Farm in Western New-York. 
Eds. Cultivator —I am induced to give you a de¬ 
scription of a 600 acre farm, lately purchased by Hon. 
Allen Ayrault of Geneseo. It is situated near Mount 
Morris; one half upland, gravelly and sandy soil, the* 
other half flats divided about equally by the Genesee 
Valley canal. When Mr. A. first came into possession 
of the first part of this farm, 100 acres, it was very 
much impoverished by constant cropping—receiving hut 
a very illiberal share of manure. Since that, he has, 
purchased 200 more adjoining. It is astonishing to see 
the contrast, the road only dividing the two purchases. 
The former has been occupied by Mr. A. four years, 
the other he purchased this spring with the crops. On 
one side the surface is covered with beautiful waving 
crops, the other with the most pernicious weeds and 
miserably light crops. Mr. A. intends to make this a 
valuable farm by a proper mode of cultivation. He has 
numerous never-failing springs on the elevated land, 
which supply his fields below and his barn-yards and 
stables, with a constant stream of water, both winter and 
summer. Many of his fields are supplied with spring 
water by a penstock in the corner of a field, for the use 
of two or more lots. A small peg is taken from either 
side of it to suit the convenience of each. 
He has built a large barn, to which is attached a stable 
for fattening cattle, a stall being provided for each.ani¬ 
mal, with a gate to enclose him. Here he lies loose on 
a thick bed of straw, which absorbs all the urine; he 
sleeps at his ease, and gets fat at his leisure, being well 
supplied with well cured ■“ early cut hay,” and an eco- 
Fee. 
nomical portion of Indian meal. Indian corn can be 
grown on the flats in abundance. Mr. A.’s stock of cat¬ 
tle are promising; some Herefords, Short-horns, and 
grades; sheep a cross with the Leicester and Cotswold. 
He has a white breed of pigs, of which he keeps about 
75 in number, which I should say were tolerably good, 
but not equal to the Berkshire or Leicester for profit. 
A number of sows with their pigs are lying in a clover 
field adjoining thehouse,in which there is a small pen made 
for the young ones to get in, and they are there fed with 
corn in the absence of their mothers. These are des¬ 
tined for the Brighton market, when weighing about 5© 
to 75 lbs. each, where they meet a ready sale at remunera 
ting prices. 
Mr. John Ayrault, a nephew of Mr. A/s, has the 
management of this farm, and a very enterprising young 
man he is. I think he is on his way to become one of 
the few good and thorough farmers. He possesses good 
judgment in cattle and tillage; and his system of neat¬ 
ness and economy will in a short time rank his farm 
amongst the best. He is growing roots of various kinds 
to test the value of each, and intends by careful obser¬ 
vation to prove the feeding quality of each variety. The 
noted Skirving Swede turnep is amongst the number in 
this experiment. I have always placed a high value on 
this root, and if Mr. A. is successful in growing them, 
it will afford a sample for the public to judge from. It 
is my impression that more beef and mutton can he 
made per acre from this bulb than any other root. 
Mr. A. has a large cellar under his barn, capable of 
storing a great quantity. A door opens into his feeding 
room very conveniently for the herdsman. Every ani¬ 
mal on the premises is kept in the highest condition, but 
economy in the management of food is strictly adhered 
to. There is a small ‘‘ American Cottage” near to the 
barn, of which Mr. Ayrault was his own architect. It 
is sheltered by a hill of picturesque shape, adorned by 
the forest above it. This is improved by the woodman’s 
axe and spade, under the guidance of Mr. A.’s good 
taste. A winding carriage road leads through the wood, 
and when you reach the summit of the hill it commands 
a view which for beauty cannot be excelled in this coun¬ 
try. The Indians lingered long on this spot, and it was 
a favorite resort for them, a circumstance which is pretty 
good proof of fertility. 
TVe had quite a spirited plowing match at Geneseo a 
few weeks since, on the farm of Mr. North. The fur¬ 
rows were straight, deep, and well turned, but I cannot 
reconcile myself to say they were sufficiently narrow to 
be called 11 scientific.” I am fully convinced that a 
narrow furrow is very important on sod ground, more 
especially when Indian corn or other grain is put in with 
only one plowing. I am inclined to believe that clover 
sod plowed narrowly once, in August, is as good for a 
crop of wheat, as summer fallow. The thistles and 
other weeds must be kept down. Wm. H. Sotham. 
Greenwood Cemetery. —This celebrated cemetery, 
near New-York city, which taken altogether, is regard¬ 
ed as unsurpassed by anything of the kind in the world, 
has we are informed, employed of late about three hun¬ 
dred persons constantly in the preservation and improve¬ 
ment of the grounds; which will give some idea of their 
extent and keeping. 
