Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-04-08
THE VASSAR FARM.
An Interesting Feature Of The College
For Young Ladies.
SOME IDEA OF wHATTnEY EAT.
The vassar Girls Consume Large Quantities
Of Meat, MIX, and Vegetables ~ Well
as Pickles, Carameis, and Olives.
Correspondence of the Dispatch.)

Correspondence of the Dispatch)
NEW YORK. April I'll spent day re-
Gently at the old Matthew Vassar farm.
1t comprises some two hundred acres.
and Is one OF the many interesting fea-
lures OF the greatest institution in Amer
lea for young ladies. The college has a
fine garden. from which an abundant and
fresh supply OF vegetables Is obtained
the year around.
In the early spring lettuce, spinach
| and asparagus are in demand. Great
quantities OF lettuce are raised In hot
beds. SO. too, spinach, which, being
sown in the fall. natures in the spring.
Then comes asparagus, which springs up
after April showers. The asparagus Deds
cover an acre of ground. and yield from
seventy-five to eighty-hve punches daily
OF course. large quantities of other
vegetables are raised in the garden, such
as radishes, celery, peas, beans. onions
potatoes. etc. This year 1000 dozen OF
| celery were raised, or more than enough
| to supply the wants of the students
| The surplus celery was sold in the
Poughkeepsie market. We may add that
| 800 bushels of onions, 200 bushels OF to-
matoes. 1000 heads of cabbage, and 1900
| bushels of potatoes were raised last
year.
IMPROVED METHODS.
The Nassar farm is run on improved
| methods and is we'll worth looking over
as, indeed, II ia by many persons who
visit the college during the year. The
| farm house" Is comfortable home for
| the head man and his family. II Is
about half mile from the college build
| ings. There are several smaller houses
| for the farm hands. IL Is not unusual
| for parents who visit their daughters
| 10 stop over night at the farm house,
when the hotels and boarding houses
near by are crowded during commence
ment week"
The Vassar dairy supplies most OF the
milk that comes on the table. II Is n
model Of its kind. The animals are tended
almost are carefully as human beings.
| and when curried their coats shine like
| satin. There are from forty to fifty cows
| in the herd They are all selected, high
| grade CRITTERS" The Holsteins seem to
| be the fayorite breed The cows are
| stabbed in large and airy quarters, where
| they have patent fresh waters appliances,
| ventilation. and distribution of heat IN
winter. etc. Cleanliness. good sanitary
| conditions. and kindness in the treatment
| and care of the animals tell in the long
run. The result Is. the milk supplied TO
| the students contains a large amount or
cream, sometimes II runs as high as j.
per cent. cream.
THE SUPPLY.
~ nj
| Vassar College during the year Is from
| 5000 TO 10000 quarts. Say that, at TINS
season OF the year. cow VIII average
ten quarts daily, so that the students
| take the daily product of 1000 COWS. But
| This does not represent all the cows
| needed 10 supply the college. About 5000
mounds of butter are used during the
year.
In the matter of eggs, think for a mo-
ment of the demand made by the 100 stu
| dents. They need about 5000 eggs. In
other words. 1t would take a nimbie-
fingered man, picking eggs from Dlh'
nearly a week TO count eut enough LOT
| Nassar College.
The most important item In the Nassar
| book OF table expenses Is meat, ana uhder
| this head include beef. mutton. poultry
| and game The amount consumed Is, III
| round numbers, $500 pounds. The re-
| frigerated beef comes principally from
| Chicago. while the supply of other meats
| and poultry is drawn from the country
| near by. The steward selects only the
| choicest cuts. Thus, the meat at Nassaf
| is exceptionally good and tender aithoush
J mistakes occur. as they often 90 IN the
hest regulated families. The supply OF
chickens and turkeys Is liberal atouiu
| nj
Another important item Is flour. Inc
| ouantity of grain raised on the farm Is
| comma ratiyely small. The amount OF nour
rentired is 5000 pounds. or $50 barrels
wear. only the higher grades OF hour are
used. and this. together with the baker
| skill accounts for the excellence or vas
| sar bread. The mullins, rolls, cakes, ana
pies are made on the premises, IN we'll
| appointed bakery, by experienced men,
| A FIRST-CLASS CHEF.
| Here II may be said that the cuisine
| IL presided over by Il first-class chef. who
| has under his watchful eye a number
| OF pastry-cooks. confectioners. etc. The
head cook receives $1,000 a year. and is
engaged for the year. During the sum
mer vacation the men and women cooks
| find positions elsewhere. generally In
the large hotels at the summer resorts.
| Then they return to the college in Sep
| tcmber when the term begins.
| The Vassar College kitchen Is an inter-
| esting feature in itself, and is seldom
| seen by outsiders. But its appearance
| would please the traditional New England
| housewife. 1t Is as clean and neat az a
| pin. The idea is 10 have not only the best
| materials, but TO have them properly
| cooked and prepared. To this end there
are improved ranges. patent boilers.
| steam. etc. The petty details of the
kitchen may seem sometimes small in
| themselves, but II we consider how much
| OF the health and comfort of Vassar
students depend upon the cook. who can
say that such details are unlmportant?
The attention paid to the domestic
| economy OF Vassar College Is greater
than most people are wont to suppose.
Thus. while good living Is the rule. those
who look for high living would be dis
| appointed.
| And yet the students have quite a num-
| Der OF Injuries. Last year some 500
oranges and $1,000 bananas were furnished
TO the girls. To this should be added
1,S0 pounds of nuts 300 bottles of pickles.
and 80 quart-jars OF olives. The taste
for olives may be acquired, but with the
4
| freshman year. Don't forget, either, the
800 pounds OF caramels used at the COL
lege. or course, this doesn't include the
boxes sent by big brothers and dear
| friends
| lf there Is one more than carameIs
that the Vassar student yearns for il is
pancakes You may laugh but IL is the
solid fact. The quantity of pancakes
consumed at the college is enormous
The griddle is ten feet long and three
wide. The Vassar pancake has a turn
and brown that is peculiarly it's own
About 300 cakes are consumed at break
| fast.
| OTHER ARTICLES.
Some of the other articles furnished
during the school year may here be given
IN round figures. Sugar Is required TO the
extent of 5000 pounds. Some OF this
goes to sweeten 1900 pounds OF coffee,
and l.2o pounds of tea. Few things need
sweetening, while the girls are around
Then there is the item Of canned vege-
tables which amounts in' year to some
$500 cans. No fewer than 5000 oysters
and clans are required. and not far from
$500 pounds Of dried fruit. To this mus,
1 hD aH1Q1 haO nf calf Of oil