Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-03-18
THE MOST TALKED OF FARMER
Wonuers Accomplished by J. D. Diet
rich's Methods.

Won.ers Accomplished by J. D. Diet
rich's Methods.
The American Agriculturist called
attention about a year ago to clergy
man named ]. D. Dietrich who lived
near Philadelphia and was doing Won
ders with fifteen acres of land.
The little farm came into his posses
sion by inheritance about twenty years
ago. 1t was so worn out that when he
settled in the cottage and installed
horse and two cows in the barn he had
to buy hay for the animals. The land
would not produce the garden stuff
AMI hay he required.
Mr.. Dietrich has been so wonderfully
successful in reclalming his land that
he Is at present the most talked about
farmer in the country. All the agri-
cultural papers have taken him up.
He cannot supply the demand for
himself as a speaker at farmers insti-
tutes; and to cap the climax. the agri-
cultural department at Washington
now desires to devote whole bulletin
to mis- farm and methods.
He is getting more advertising than
is comfortable. His place Is overrun
with visitors, and they interfere with
his work.
In his opinion if the government or
any other responsible agency wishes
him to conduct his place as model
farm for educational purposes, that Is
one thing: but If he is to continue to
run his place as a private enterprise
he wants to give more Of his time to
his personal affairs and less to the
public, and the agricultural depart
ment admits that this is perfectly rea-
sonable.
This fifteen acre farm is prominently
before the country because there Is
no other fifteen acre farm in the land
devoted to the dairy industry that Is
making so much money.
Dairy farms usually have large
acreage, and cattlemen think they must
have at least three or four acres to
cow. But here Is a place where less
than fifteen acres can be devoted to
the live stock, for the building and
garden require some ground, and yet
this little place raises everything re-
auired for the support Of from thirty
two to thirty-five cows and two horses,
the year round.
better cared for. The cows are OF the
best dairy stock, their milk is pure and
rich and IL brings the highest price.
The result Is that the most money to
the acre made in the dairying busi-
ness in our country Is made on this
little tract of land near Philadelphia.
One of the experts Of the agricul-
tural department has estimated that
full account Of Mr.. Dietrich's manage
ment and methods would be worth
$4,000, 900 TO the dairy interests Of the
land. The agents Of the department
have recommended to the secretary or
agriculture that the sum or S2,0OO a
year be paid to Mr.. Dietrich to enable
him to run his place as a model farm.
He would have the profits of the
place as usual and the extra money
would compensate him for the time
required to explain everything to WIS.,
iting farmers.
Intelligent study, good sense ano
hard work have made this little tarm @
what it is The first thing to be done
was to enrich 1t.
The owner of the land simply ex-
hausted all sources Of information
about fertilizers, and then, Of course,
he had to apply his knowledge IN the
best way to suit his own case. There
Is no richer land in the country to-
day than this tract. The land Is work.
ed very hard and 1t pays to FEED II
abundantly.
Not an acre could be devoted to
pasture. Grass would not yield sum
cient fodder; so the whole question OF
soiling or fodder crops was gone into.
What crops, corn, oats, cow peas, etc.
would produce the best results? How
could they be sown alternately so as to
grow at least three crops OF FODDER
every season. All Of these problems
were exhaustively studied, and the
solution was complete.
There being no pasturage, the cows
must be foddered in stalls or In the
barnyard, and this involved questions
Of the proper amount OF exercise anu
air for the animals to keep them IN
the very best Of condition. Dihcultles
in the way were successfully over.
come, and the quality and condition OF
the COWS would make them conspie-
uous at any state fair.
So the summer crops provide plenty
of food both for the open feeding yard
and also for the silos in which the
winter provender is stored. The ex,
pertinent was somewhat unusual and
involved some original problems, all OF
which seem to have been solved In the
best manner