The Baltimore County Union

WRITTEN FOR "THE UNION."

"HAYFIELDS."

The Home of the Merrymans-A Grand
Old Estate-Its Herefords and Other
Fine Stock, &c., &c.

Occupying one of the most attractive parts of
the 5th district of Baltimore county, celebrated for
its cultivated farms and fine stock, is the famed
estate of the late Hon. John Merryman, "Hayfields." The gently rolling lands, encompassing
560 acres, are located about two miles from the
thriving village of Cockeysville and equi-distant
from the romantically situated Ashland, with its
steel works, neat cottages, unique vine-clad church
and pretty school house and picturesque Western
run. "Hayfields" is a famous old farm, having been
purchased by Colonel Bosley, who figured in the
war of 1812, four years before. Those who knew
the Colonel noted a great resemblance in physique
and in character to General Jackson. The noble
"Hayfields" home, of solid masonry, was built by
Col. Bosley, who to his builder traced the plans
with his cane upon the sand. All the walls are
of the same thickness in the mansion, which seems
impregnable to age. Entrance to the hall introduces the visitor to an art gallery of oil paintings
-pictures of the Hereford stock for which Hayfields is famous, and therefrom to Indiana, Illinois,
Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas, Texas, Colorado and
Wyoming have gone the heads of herds. The
ample parlors and drawing-rooms, elegantly furnished, are also enhanced by family portraits of
royal size, which illustrate the Merryman family
for generations. The rich and well-filled cabinets,
the articles of vertu and the generous sideboards
with silver trophies, show the ideal home of Southern refinement. Many of the cups are exquisite
in finish and partake of historical interest. A
silver tankard, dated 1824, was presented by the
hand of General Lafayette, representing the Maryland Agricultural Society, "for the best farm." A
handsome silver cup, dated 1853, was awarded to
E. Gittings Merryman, his gallant mare "Kiss-Me-Quick" having victoriously carried 170 pounds to
the front in the steeple-chases of that year.

Many other trophies call forth admiration, but
the living thoroughbred stock being of greater interest, I accompanied Mr. E. Gittings Merryman
to his fields and stables. From the mansion, surrounded with lawns and stately trees, a conservatory and gardens in terraces walled round, several
strong buildings are noticeable, including a two-story cottage erected for the family physician in
days of yore. It was here that Dr. Louis Griffith,
the reputed cause of lime being introduced as an
auxiliary to land fruition, held forth. The former
slave quarters are also solid stone buildings and
therefrom barns, stables, paddocks, coach and implement houses extend. The beautiful rolling
fields, where numerous husbandmen are busy plowing and sowing, have each and all springs of crystal-like water, while one limestone spring,
which supplies the residence, has never known
diminishment by drought. The 500 and odd acres
of arable land are heightened in beauty by a virgin
white oak forest and ornamental garniture aids
the scene. The ample stables and barns, with
capacity for 200 head in all, were built for solidity,
and although not possessing the kitchenlike appearance of the modern barns, are very convenient and arranged so that security against storm
and plenty of ventilation can be had at will. In
the horse stables are several trotters, steeplechasers and roadsters, which have caused the
plaudits of the crowd and will again. "Mambrino
Lawrence" is a three-year-old stallion from the
dam of "Billy Badeye," record 2:26. He is a
powerful youngster and will develop into a grand
horse. He shows the thoroughbred in every lineament and is numbered 3805 in Wallace's Register.
"Lollypop" is a very handsome light chestnut
mare, by "Orange Blossom." She is six years old,
shows splendid style and has made excellent time
in private. She has a clean head, fine limbs and
is a perfect beauty from ear to tail. "Kiss-Me-Quick," the cup winner, can carry 190 pounds
gracefully and looks as if a six-barred gate would
be no obstruction. "Doe Simmons" is a strong
looking chestnut, with white hind socks. He
stands 16 hands high, is 7 years old and has put
several purses in the pocket of his owner. He is
a regular glutton on a jump or plowed field, to
which he adds good temper and good looks. "Hayfields" farm has disposed of many first-class roadsters, noted for good speed, style and docility, and
good breeding is always depended on.

After leaving the stables I saw as fine a flock of
Oxforddown sheep and lambs as I have seen for
years. Taking the backward season into account
the lambs have done remarkably well, and the
eves and rams, with their cute black faces and
thick white wooly coats, are bleating pictures.

But the pride of the farm is the herd of thoroughbred Hereford cattle. The Hereford is one of the
most highly prized breed of cattle known and for
many generations has held front rank as first-class
beef stock. The animals are particularly handsome and attain grand size, comparing in that respect with the Durham or Short-Horn, and the
white faces and bonnie brown coats of the Hereford show grandly in a herd, and they are becoming more and more prized wherever introduced.
The high estimation in which they are held may
be imagined when stated that the "Lord Wilson"
bull brought $20,000 in England and "Grove III"
was sold in Illinois by Mr. Culbertson to Mr.
Earl, of Indiana, for $7,500. These are fancy
prices, but speak volumes and all judges of stock
recognize their unsurpassed qualities. The "Hayfields" herd numbers 71 head, of which 61 are
thoroughbreds, and a grander lot of calves never
romped on a farm field than those now exhibited.
The young sire, the present head of the herd, is
"Prince De Cote" No. 5855, aged four years. He
is a noble animal, weighing 1,800 pounds, with a
back like a table top and quarters descending in
a straight line. He is beautifully marked and his
"get" show every promise. Two young bulls,
"Tambourine," two years old in May, and "Old
Gentleman," two years old in September, by
"Prince De Cote," and from two of the best cows
in the herd, are worth a day's journey to see. The
most noted cows of the herd, which occupy the
position as amid the finest Herefords in the world,
are "Princess Charlotte," No. 1714, nine years
old; "Dorcas II," No. 5857, eight years old, and
"Bonnets of Blue," No. 5866, seven years old.

Besides the Hereford cattle, the trotters, steeplechaser and roadsters and the Oxforddowns,
"Hayfields" raises Poland China hogs and the
henneries have the very purest Matthew Gaines
thoroughbred game fowls, originally imported.
$150 worth of these chickens have been sold this
spring.

In the "Hayfields" home are many curiosities
showing the rare and the antique, amid the most
notable being a clock, perfect in movement, manufactured over 150 years ago. Some modern
clock-repairer has inserted beside the weights-

"I'm old and worn as my face appears,
For I've walked on time over a hundred years,
Many have fallen since I begun;
I've buried the world with its hopes and fears
In my long, long march over a hundred years."

CARSWELL.