The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1904-02-05
MODEL DAIRY FARMS.
Paper Read By Mr.. A. B. McVey At The
Farmers Institute At Rising Sun.
TWO VALUABLE OBJECT LESSONS.

Brother farmers, am not here to-
day to tell you how farm, or how
you should manage your farm or
dairy. This would be neither pro-
fitable to you or pleasant for me;
since my method of farming is not
what it. should be, or what l
would advise any one to follow. |
am here to tell you what others are
doing. In fact, am here in much
the same capacity as an old negro
slave was, who always accompanied
his master to help him out of hard
places, and explain his miraculous
stories. The master related that
he had once shot a deer through
the hind foot and ear with the one
shot. The slave explained, Dat
was easy enough! the deer was
scratching its ear with its hind foot
at the time. Director Amoss has
frequently told US many interesting
facts that have come under his
observation; other Institute speak
ers have told us about baby beef,
hot house lambs, alfalfa; how to
make money on some COWS and
lose on others. I am here to-day
to prove some of these reports.
Last year we were surprised to
learn that some dairymen kept a
cow per acre, but Mr.. Dietrich
keeps three cows per acre.
Mr.. Dietrich is a Dutch Reformed
preacher, living at Flowertown,
one mile from the limits of Phila.,
who keeps three cows per acre,
besides attending to his ministerial
duties regularly. He has fine
herd of thirty head of cattle on
eleven acres, only employing one
man and boy to assist him. His
farm contains 15 acres which in
cludes ground occupied by build
ings and roadways, leaving eleven
acres for tillage. Before telling
what we saw at Mr.. Dietrich's per-
haps it would be well to relate as
nearly as we can in his own words
how he started, and how he
manages his cows. Some 20 years
ago, this little farm fell to him. 1t
then supported two COWS and one
horse, many fences and a large
mortgage. He knew nothing of
farming and cared less. He did
not know then there were different
kinds of COWS. By reading he
learned that there were breeds of
COWS which excelled in certain
lines. The cows on the old place
were Jerseys. He bought more
Jerseys and raised Jerseys. He
found he could not support these
cows on pasture, he had not land
enough. He read books, papers,
bulletins. He learned that he
must first improve the soil. After
much study and Investigation he
decided to try the system of soiling
and fodder. Growing all his feed
Except the concrete feed) all his
bedding, and returning every
particle of the manure to the
land, keeping up the fertility
of the farm without buying
fertilizers. Just before the cattle
are MIXED they are groomed and
thoroughly cleaned. The amount
of milk produced during the win
ter and summer varies only slight
ly, testing about 5.S1 the year
around. The milk is sold to the
Home for Pulmonary Troubles near
by, for which they pay 81 cents
per quart.
The heifers give from IA to 16
quarts, and other cows from 16 to
Is quarts per day. The cows are
always fed after milking. They
are fed regularly at 5 a. m. and 5
p. m. They are fed bran, linseed,
corn ensilage, rye, clover, timothy,
oats and canada peas. Everything
chopped fine. Each COW has 4 OF.
fine salt per day, and must drink
% quarts of water per day, or eat
more salt. The first year he lost
46 dollars. He studied chemistry
and got Prof. Mill's work on silos.
Turned an old chicken house into a
silo; first year he pastured the
stock but kept them in stable ever
since, not being out from one years
end to the other, not even for
water. Studied balanced rations,
built two silos of 60 tons capacity.
Grows all forage, feed and bedding
except bran and ground feed.
When we were there had 20 cows,
IL giving milk. Keeps two horses.
Uses best 70 d and pure water, but
no prepared stock or patent foods.
Gives the cows clay or sod to lick
once week uses variety of feed;
the greater the variety, the better,
In NJ IA