Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-05-05
How they teach Boys and Girls the
Art of Dairying in Denmark.
In Denmark there are six institntic

| In denmark there are SIX INSTITUTIONS Tor
giving instruction in dairying. One of them
is thus described by French traveller.
The school, says he, is situated in the
island Of Zealand, about twelve miles distant
from the Taastaupp station on the railway
from Copenhagen to Coison. 1t is called the
Thine Candburgs Skole agricultural School
Of Thiine), and was founded in 1865, by
Valcintinas, one Of the most distinguished
Danish writers on husbandry. The director
Of the school, who is assisted by his wife and
three professors, cultivates about 130 acres,
keeps herd of 20 COWS, and bordering on
the establishment is farm, on which there
are not less than 130 or 140 nilch cows.
Two sections of pupils are instructed From
the first of September to the FIRST of Novem-
ber, the pupils are all girls from the 18th
of November to the first of August, the girls
are replaced by boys. The girls pay about
92 per month, and are obliged to provide
their own bed and personal linen, but receive
board and lodging, light and washing, besides
excellent professional instruction. At the
time of my visit to this establishment, [
found engaged in it sixty.two handsome and
healthy-ooking girls, all of whom had nice
manners, and were, seemingly, comfortable
and happy. The directors assured me that
they were all daughters Of wealthy peasant
properietors. The instruction given is theo-
retical as well as practical. The pupils, be-
fore being received into this establishment,
must possess good elementary education
their ages vary from fifteen to eighteen years.
On entering the school, they are at first in
structed in Scandinavian history, afterwards
in arithmetic, bookkeeping, natural history,
the management Of the dairy, physiology,
and alimentation Of cows. And through all,
it is the object of the instructors to excite
their pupils curiosity, and fix their interest
in agricultural matters. The book keeping
taught consists merely in the affairs of the
dairy aud general housekeeping; nor is sewing
neglected, for in the afternoon the pupils
are engaged in it and, lastly, they are prac-
tised iu singing by repeating religious and
patriotic airs. The greater part of the
morning is occupied in practical operations,
and for this purpose the young girls are all
in their turn employed at the different ser.
vices Of the dairy and housekeeping. -Four
patches Of three girls receive a hundred
quarts each of skim.milk to transfer into
cheese. Eight girls are employed at the
churn, four preside at the butter washing,
others are engaged in milking the COWS,
washing the dairy utensils, preparing rennet
and in this way these girls are initiated into
the various duties of the dairy. Some 400
or 500 quarts of milk are daily operated
upon, every process being carefully noted and
explained. The dairy is divided into five
compartments Il. The wash-house, fitted
with two boilers for hot water, and plenti.
ful supply Of cold water. l. The compart-
ment in which are placed the churn worked
by horse-power), the cheese press and scales
for weighing milk, butter, or cheese, as taken
in or given out. B. The butter.cellar. 4.
The compartment in which milk to be skim
med is placed 5. The cheese store. The
girls sleep in two large dormitories, and eat
together in one large dining-hal The
school-room, like the other apartments, is
large and cheerful, the walls being orna-
mented with maps and other instructive pic
lures. The boys, who succeed the girls, re-
main at the establishment from the 18th of
November to the lst of the August follow
ing, and receive much more developed ed.
ucation. These young men are all sons of
well'to-do pCasant-proprietors, and before be-
ing admitted to the dairy school are obliged
to attend for at least one year at
one of the high schools, after leaving the
elementary one.' In these high schools,
founded by private individuals and societies.
and encouraged by the state, the pupils re-
ceive excellent instruction in history, geogra.
ply, geometry, modern language, natural Sci
ences, etc.Th edairy school at Thine receives
each year forty of these young men. They,
however, have only two hours of practical
work each day, during which time they are
required to assist in all the various duties
The pupils are charged Il l2s. per month";
exclusive of washing. There are laboratories
and herbarums at the disposal of the pupils,
and every week they make excursions into
the country. Thus, when they leave the
establishment, they have not only received
comprehensive and solid education, but have
acquired love for country life and agricul.
tural pursuits. Norway and Sweden have
also, for some years past, entered into this
system, and have founded many establish.
ments on the model of the one at Thine, be.
sides bringing directors and professors from
Denmark. Among these establishments
may be mentioned the school of Haddrop,
founded Eve years ago, and that of Bergvara.
Independent Of these special schools, there
are fourteen or fifteen model dairies
recognized by the state and provincial gov.
ernments, which are allowed two receive a
few girls or boys, to instruct them in the
manufacture Of butter and cheese.