The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-21

and the pioughed hillsides, ready 10
be seeded. Every morning his secre-
tary and his superintendent of agri-
culture, Baron d'Allings, would visit
him and an hour was spent in listening
to the reports of this or that yield of
corn. grain, etc. and many tons of hay
secured and comparative yield OF the
gardens, the milk of the Jersey and
Holstein cows, I'm all their detail and
then jump into light two-wheeled
cart and drive over to this or that
farm with the baron. and examine
some new fodder plant or new insect
which may he damaging the grain.
Often he would walk into the fields and
talk with the hands at work on some
detail of planting or reaping. 1t is
said that anyone going toward the
mansion at Biltmore, at early morn
ing or during the cool of evening. may
chance to meet two men in road d-cart
or a buggy. One is evidently an Eng
iish groom. The other is a small man
of light complexion with side whis-
kers, whose face looks as if he suffered
from dyspepsia. He is attired in a
gray sack suit and a dark brown der
by. That is Mr.. Vanderbilt, looking
over his roads. Sometimes he is ac-
companied by his farm superintend-
ent. an interesting and courteous char
acter who is willing to impart infor-
nation. The baron is Il finely built
man of fifty years, with iron gray mus
tache and military carriage. He
speaks broken English and reminds
one of Il Frenchman, rather than
German. He rides fine blooded horse
and is a member of the Asheville
swell club and a visitor there about
noon every day, smoking cigarettes, or
enjoying game of cards. He draws.
ii is said. the modest sum of $500 per
year. He is well read and well bred
and great student of agriculture,
Mr.. Vanderbilt is a firm believer in
good roads and has good laboratory
on the estate. where an expert is en-
poyed in finding the best soil, as well
as the best rock on the place for road
formation. The result of these expert
nents, as well as those of agriculture,
are freely furnished to all inquirers,
and put to practical use at Biltmore.
The result is, that around the mansion
and Riltlpore forest, are some fifty or
more miles of as fine driveways as
can be found in the country.
The Biltmore farming district cover
ing several thousand acres under cult
vation, is divided into six farms, each
i'm charge of IL foreman, or farm boss.
with several negro hands. The land is
selected from fertile parts of the es-
tate and is in different sections, that
nearest the chateau being the best and
largest, the farthest being eight miles
distant. 1t is the intention to increase
the acreage until it will comprise 10000
acres, making it the largest agricul-
tural property in America, to feed the
largest number of cattle, horses. etc.
GROWING FODDER PLANTS.
Superintendent Alllngs says special
attention is being given to the growing
of fodder on 500 acres, where ensilage
plants are being successfully used to
take the place of timothy and other
kinds of hay, which are often a failure
in this, as we'll as many other parts of
the South The alfalfa and teasintu
and certain European productions have
been raised successfully and used in
ensilage, of which some thousands of
tons are annually made on the farm.
Corn, rye wheat and oats are the prin-
cipal cereal crops, with yields of fifty
five bushels of corn, twenty-ti five bush
els of rye, wheat thirty-five bushels
and oats forty bushels to the acre The
most modern methods of agriculture
are employed and the best utensils also
used. On a twenty-acre garden patch
are grown asparagus peas, beets, let
tuce, onions. berries, and every other
variety of fresh vegetables. which find
Il ready sale in the AShevlle market
when not consumed at home-so I
might numerate.
Stock-raising is Il great feature at
Blltmore. In the stock yard here are
found several hundred horses, princi-
DAlly draft animals, twenty grades OF
Jersey COWS, 300 southdown sheep and
200 of Berkshire pigs. etc: also large
stocks of Toulouse geese, Pekin ducks
bronze turkeys, and Brahma chickens'
A hen house, costing several thousand
dollars. with artificial hatchery. nests
and other special features. Raising
road and trOtting horses are fast be-
coming popular here.
The "dairy farm is one of the most
important sources of revenue from the
estate. The milk supply for all the
principal hotels, boarding houses and
many private families comes from the
estate, amounting to $500 and upwards
per week. 1t is carried into town in
canvas-covered wagons with the sign
"Biltmore Dairy" in large black letters
on the sides, and the landlord or land
lady is not slow in informing the Wis
itor that I'VE get our milk from Mr..
Nanderbilts farm" The ruling price
pald Is ten cents quart, and cream
accordingly. Imagine having VAN
derbilt your milkman, and favoring
your coffee with cream from the dairy
of a millionaire.
john l.. Richmond