130 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
April, 
suit has been an improvement which is too obvious to be 
doubted. 
But the benefit of Mr. R.’s example and exertions has 
not been confined to the improvement of domestic ani¬ 
mals. He purchased a farm which was considered ut¬ 
terly worn out. This he has completely renovated, and 
by means, chiefly, which have been adopted by others in 
the vicinity, with great advantage. The soil of the farm, 
as well as of the section generally, is derived from the 
decomposition of a silicious slate. Large quantities of 
leached ashes had accumulated from potash manufacto¬ 
ries in the neighborhood,—their value as a fertilizer be¬ 
ing so little regarded, that they were not deemed worth 
carrying away. Mr. R. commenced using ashes on his 
farm extensively, and with striking benefits from the 
outset. In the course of a few years, he applied no less 
than two thousand loads, of twenty-five bushels to the 
load—those of the first year having been obtained gratis, 
the second at twelve and a half cents a load, and the 
last at seventy-five cents a load—the latter being the 
price at which they now remain, and are so much sought 
after, that they are carted, in many instances, six or 
seven miles—-the farmer being satisfied that even at this 
cost, they are applied with profit. By the aid of ashes, 
with strict economy in the saving and application of the 
manures of the farm, Mr. R. has brought his land to a 
highly productive state. It is chiefly devoted to grass, 
and produces an average of two and a half tons of hay 
to the acre. For several years, he has not found it ne¬ 
cessary to purchase manures,—those made on the premi¬ 
ses being sufficient to maintain the fertility of the farm. 
Mr. R. has now relinquished the management of the 
home farm and the stock,to his son,Mr. F. M. Rotch. His 
Short-horns were in fine condition, and many of them 
are among the very best specimens of the breed. His 
South-Down sheep, about sixty in number, denote high 
breeding, and in uniformity and general symmetry, they 
are seldom equalled. The flock has, in fact, constituted the 
source from which many animals have been drawn for 
the improvement of other flocks of this breed. He has 
a small flock of the French Merinos, several of which 
were imported. They are of very large size, and quite 
even in the character of their wool, of which they bear 
a very large quantity. 
We must not omit to mention Mr. R.’s Dorking fowls, 
of which he has a very choice stock, derived from 
Messrs. Baker of London, and other celebrated Eng¬ 
lish fanciers. He has, also, a curious variety of rabbits, 
said to have been originally procured from Madagascar, 
but much improved in beauty and other qualities in 
England. In relation to these,he has obligingly furnished 
us with some remarks, which will be found on another 
page. 
Devon cattle, as before remarked, have been bred in 
this vicinity, more or less, for several years. Those who 
have attended our State Fairs, will recollect the fine 
animals of this breed which Otsego has turned out, a 
good proportion of which generally stand high up in the 
list of successful competitors for premiums. Among 
the breeders of this stock, Mr. R. H. Van Rensselaer 
deserves particular mention. He has some of the finest 
Devons in the country. A part of his herd was derived 
from the importation of Mr. Rotch, before mentioned. 
To these he added, in 1849, the noted bull “ Major,” 
purchased of Mr. Gapper, of Canada, (see Cultivator 
for 1850, pp. 80, 81,) and during the past season has im¬ 
ported two very superior heifers, from the celebrated 
herd of Mr. George Turner, near Exeter, England. 
One of these heifers, which is three years old this spring, 
has produced a fine heifer calf—the sire, Mr. Turner’s 
bull which received the first prize of the Royal Agricul¬ 
tural Society, in the Devon class, at the show of 1850. 
The other heifer is two years old this spring, and has not 
yet bred. Though both are fine, we consider the young¬ 
er, one of the most perfect animals we have ever seen. 
With such stock as Mr. V. R. has now in his possession, 
he can hardly fail to breed Devons that will be credita¬ 
ble to himself, and greatly beneficial to the country. 
Mr. V. R. has one of the best arranged poultry-yards 
we have seen, (of which we hope to receive a descrip¬ 
tion)—well stocked with Dorkings of Mr. Rotch’s 
stock, with a handsome assortment of the Polish or Top- 
knot fowls, turkeys, &c. He has, also, a rabbitry, in 
which he breeds the variety of rabbits introduced by 
Mr. R. 
Mr. H. N. Washbon has been for several years known 
as a successful prize-taker for Devons. He has sold 
many, which have been taken to various parts of the 
country. Much of his breeding stock was obtained from 
Mr. George Patterson, of Baltimore, well known as a 
breeder of fine Devons. Mr. W. has several choice ani¬ 
mals of this stock, though from being rather short of 
keep, some of them are not in condition, to appear to 
the best advantage. 
Mr. James Blackman has several good full blood 
Devons, some of which are of the Patterson stock. Mr. 
Baker, near New-Berlin, Chenango county, has quite 
a large herd, among which are some very good Devons. 
Other farmers do not confine themselves to full bloods 
of any breed, but keep Short-horns and Devons, and 
various grades of these with the common stock—fre¬ 
quently producing, however, very good animals, espe¬ 
cially oxen, for which the neighborhood sustains a well- 
deserved reputation. Among these may be mentioned 
Mr. R. H. Franchot, Mr. Morris, (son of the late 
Gen. M.,) Mr. Gillet, Messrs. N. B. and F. A. Pear¬ 
sall, and Messrs. Peter, James, L. S., David, and 
Stephen Bundy. Messrs. B. constitute a part of what 
is called the “ Bundy neighborhood,” in Otego—a 
neighborhood which has long been noted for good farm¬ 
ing, and fine working oxen. Messrs. B. have now several 
yoke which amply sustain their credit in this respect, and 
which in regard to beauty, strength, discipline, and all 
the qualities which constitute value in a working ox, are 
equal to any we have ever seen. The condition of many 
of the farms here, is somewhat rough and stony, and 
the labor on them is performed in a great degree by oxen. 
The best farmers are very particular in the breeding and 
training of this kind of stock, preferring those which, 
united to good constitution and substance, have a quick 
sprightly walk. The result is, that even at the plow, 
many of these oxen are not inferior in speed to the best 
horses, and their owners assured us that they were wil¬ 
ling to risk any fair competition in this business, for a 
day or a week, or any longer time. 
These oxen are generally of mixed blood, though all 
