our county fairs. Many persons requiring large, strongly made horses, find in the Alfred of Mr. Van Hoosen a valuable addition to our former stock. The favorite fancy horses of Madison county, are of the Kentucky Hunter breed. They are descendants of the horse of that name, owned many years ago by William Ferguson, of Oriskany Falls. They possess extraordinary beauty in form, and surprising activity with great docility. The celebrated Oneida chief was sired by the Kentucky hunter. A few years since, the Messrs. Ackley, of Hamilton, brought from Vermont a very fine specimen of the Morgan horse. His colts are very promising, but none as yet have reached maturity." Col. Miller has a two year old and a three year old colt which give promise of great excellence. They were sired by "Consternation," an imported stud owned by J. B. Burnett, Esq., of Syracuse. The horses of this county number about 9,600. Farm Buildings. The shelter, comfort and arrangement of cattle, the preservation of crops, their easy carriage and housing, have received but little attention as compared with the importance of the objects in regard to economy and profit. In a country newly settled, the construction of farm buildings is confined to roughly made sheds and slab hovels; but in a country of turnpikes, canals, and railroads, every advantage in favor of the farmers' stock, products, and implements is expected. The arrangement and construction of the dwelling house are so much connected with taste, that no expression of opinion will be hazarded in this place, nor any remark, further than the taste displayed in the dwellings and appendages thereto, strongly indicate the extent of refinement to which the proprietors have advanced. In regard to farm buildings, their arrangement and condition indicate most generally, the system of husbandry, the economy and welfare of the farmer. The county of Madison has several farms upon which the buildings appear to be well arranged, and sufficient for the objects above stated. Among them may be particularized the farms of R. S. Ransom, of Fenner; Lewis Raynor, of Cazenovia; Aza Gage, of De Ruyter; H. P. Potter, of East Hamilton; Ellis and Alpheus Morse, of Eaton, and others. As no rule can exist applicable to all farms, no uniformity can be maintained, in any region of country; yet with modifications to situation and like governing circumstances, there must be a similarity because the necessities of farmers in these matters are very similar. With a view to exhibit the advances made in this county, the arrangements of Mr. Alpheus Morse are selected for description as being among the best which have been examined. An outline, or diagram, is given of all the erections together with such references as seem needful for their comprehension, and not without a hope that it may lead many farmers to glean suggestions or improvements for their own benefit and for the general advancement of their favored county. REFERENCES. A. Dwelling house, fronting north. 1. Parlor, 16×16. 2. Parlor, 14X16. 3. Hall and stairs. 4. Bed room. 5. Kitchen, 16×16. 6. Wash room. 7. Pantry. 8. Passage. 9. Dairy room. 10. Porch, 6×24. 11. Wood house. 12. Bed room. B. Barn and stables. 1. Alley, 6 feet wide. 2. Water tight floor, for cattle. 5. Three feet wide manger. 6. Manure pit, 12×36. 7. Open shed and loft, 18×20 C. Open shed, 20×70, with a manger along the entire extent, for feeding cattle tied to rings. D. Cow stable, arranged with stalls. E. Tool house, 20×26, for farm implements. F. Corn house and granary. G. Carriage house, 24×26, and horse stable, 18×24-hay lofts above. H. Calf house, with divisions, mangers, troughs, &c. J. Piggery, 24×24, with cooking and stove rooms. K. Ice house, 12×18, filled in with tan. All the barn and stable doors slide on rollers affixed to the top of each door. Mr. Morse has erected about 100 rods of wire fence, and esteems it a cheap and durable fence, costing about seventy-six cents per rod; the posts are of cedar, and the wire is number 9. |