Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-06
DAIRY FARMING IN VIRGINIA.
A Model and Paying Enssrprsss and HAw
ff Pays.

90 mnch has been said In the Tnckahoe
Ciub meetings and other gatherings
ot Of farmers about ChatswoIth, the
stock farm Of Mr.. X b. Chafhn, OF
this city, that a Dfspofch representative
determined yesterday to ayai! himself of
an oft-repeated invitation OF the owner 70
'''issss II COMPANY ma ri,t with Mr.. Chafin and Mr.
Smith, OF Lynchburg. ho left the Dispnne
Office aud in thirty-fve minutes was at tns
farm.
A MODEL FARM.
Chatsworth is truly q model farm. ss
must bo apparent to one who knows even
less about farming than tho late Horace
Greeley. Order. system, and neatness strike
the eye at every turn. TWAS formerly the
home of the late William Randolph ana
contained over thousand acres. but a1r:
Chaffin after purchasing it sold Oh OIL bue
SIS acres. retaining ia this tract what he
considered tho richest part OF the estate.
HIGHLY CULTIVATED.
The farm is in the highest state of culti.
vation. consists OF uplands and lowlands,
with frontage of more than mile on
james river. Mr.. Chatin has supplement-
ed its natural superb drainage with miles
of underdrainage.
TIE FEATURES.
The features. however. of Chatsvorth
are the barns and the herdof mich cows,
which latter are the money-makers of Mr..
Chaflin's enterprise and consist Of Jerseys,
grades, and short-horns. many OF them Of
noted pedigree. The barns are two IN
number and are about three hundred
yards apart. One of them is in the shape
of Greek cross, measuring liz feet each
way VI by "a fost in width and containing
stalls for 100 cows, which are situated In
three wings of the cross. The fourth wing
is devoted 70 two silos "a feet long. 10
feet wide, and 20 feet high, having
O capacity of 800 tons OF ensilage. In the
centre of the cross are four rooms. one
of which has a cement foor and is
used as q dairy. where tho milk immedi-
ately upon being taken from the COW is
strained and cooled-that is. ariated and
the animal heat taken from il. This pro-
cess. 80 essential to keeping the milk pure
and palatable, is neat, quick, and inge-
nious operation and reduces the tempera-
ture from blood heat to As by running the
milk over series OF corrugated cylinders
through which cold water Is passing. The
machine is made in New jersey by Messre.
Evans i Hewlirg.
WATER SUPPLY.
The barn is supplied with water, from o
six-thousand-gailon tank. to which the
water is forced from bold springs by q
powerful hydraulic ram. On the place there
are two of these rams, two tanks, aud q net
work Of piping which supplies hydrants
all over the grounds, barns, and other
houses. Near the barn is also little boiler
for steaming cans and securing that great
requisite. cleanliness. which is so essential
in all dairy operations.
The other barn is 9dxl00 feet, With wide
passage running through the centre. On
one side of the hall are two silos capabp
of holding 500 tons of ensilage, and on TIE
other are the appliances for grinding corn
and other feed, which appliances are drivan
by steam conducted from a boiler located
some distance from the, building. In this
barn are stalled one hundred and eight az
handsome and sleek cows as can be found
in the United States. This barn is also
supplied with water throughout from
tank which has capacity of eight thou
sand gallons and is elevated twenty-three
feet above the ground. Under it Is an
other dairy for straining cooling, and
ariating themllk.
Near by is a cattle-shed 42Ox16 feet with
box stalls for COWS about to calye and for
the six bulls kept on the farm. The two
water-tanks are so connected that in case
one gets out Of order the water supply will
not be interfered with.
---~ rr,r ntrrrrrnn
The main dwelling at Chatsworth Is a
new one with ten rooms. water-closet, &C.,
and is supplied with hot and cold water
throughout.
At present there are on the farm 200
cows, 175 of which arc giving milk. To
every fifteen cows there Is q mixer, who
also takes general care of the animals
under his charge. All the food necessary
to feed the stock except mill-feed II
raised on the place and the manure from
the animals Ia constantly enriching the
land. Yesterday the party were shown
the milk receipts for the month Of jan
uary, which footed up IS. 95Z pounds. or
10, ,ll2 10-l7 gallons. for which Mr.. Chatiin
received the neat sum of Sl,S20.26 from
the Richmond Milk Company, the price
per gallon being Is cents. Mr.. Ohaifin
says the farm will support $50 cows and
produce 500 gallons Of milk per day ,and
that this will represent his operations
another year. All Of his good cow-calres
are sent TO his nursery in Louisa TO DO
cared for until they are ready for milking.
NOT AN EXCEPTION
Mr.. Chaffin is justly proud Of Chatsworth
and says il ls one Of the richest farms in
Virginia. That is undoubtedly so, but
there are thousands Of acres of land in tho
old State that can be made Just as rich as
Chatsworth if their owners will profit by
Mr.. Chaffin's example. 1t took him ten
wears to make Chatsworth what IL 10, but
it is an object-iesson for those who com.
plain that farming in Virginia does notpsy.
The secret of the Chatsworth success Is
energy, enterprise, system. aud producing
your own fertilizer. Every COW he has
counts double In bringing In revenue. Mr..
John II. Chafiin, son Of the proprietor, IL
superintendent Of the dairy, and the farm
is connected with Mr. Chafiin's office in
this citSb6y telephone.
Chatsworth il indeed beautiful place,
and something oil farmers might with
profit look upon.