St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-10-04
A nODEL DAIRY FART.
Something About n ~. Johnsbury Mans
Agricultural Enterprise in sheIburne.

Something About n ". ohnsbury Mama
Agricultural Enterprise in Shelburne.
The Burlington Free Press of Sept. 20
contained the following description of a
model dairy farm in Shelburne owned
by Col. T. c. Fletcher Of this place.
Just south of "Shelburne Farms" the
summer home Of DR.. w. Seward Webb.
and fronting the lake shore for a long
distance, is tract OF land which for
picturesqueness, fertility, and historic in
terest is not surpassed in the state.
In 1859 this tract of land containing
over 1000 acres came into the possession
OF Moses Person, one of Shelburne,s
pioneer settlers. 1t afterward was pur-
chased by Judge Mech, whose name
was synonym for honesty, enterprise
and character. Upon this farm was
fought the famous "Shelburne" battle in
1777 when large party of tories and
Indians attacked block house built by
Mr.. Pierson. The seige cost several lives
but was unsuccessful.
The estate was finally divided, Mr..
Mech taking about $50 acres to the
north on which was erected large and
commodious structure of gray stone
quarried at Willsboro, N. Y, and con.
veyed across the lake in boats. The in.
terror OF this modern house was finished
in black walnut and butternut. The
cost OF construction was about $25 900,
princely fortune in those days. Today
this same house stands in a good state
OF preservation, as monument to the
cab ho 70 oF he
built it.
About fourteen years ago this prop
erty came into the hands OF Col. T. c.
Fletcher OF St. Johnsbury, well known
through his services as member of the
state railroad commission and president
of the Brightlook hospital. Mr..
Fletcher is Just now making extensive
alterations and repairs to this place at a
cost Of nearly $4,000. He is seeking to
make it one of the most practical mod
ern equipped dairy farms in Vermont.
Herewith is given description of the
work as furnished by the genial manager
Mr.. o. A. Baldwin. The farm is dis
tinctively dairy farm and Mr.. Baldwin
being a specialist in the selection of cows
for milk, has brought together a picked
herd of as fine grade stock of Ayrshires,
Hosteins and Jerseys as can be found.
He is milking SO head at present and ex-
poets this number to be augmented to
100 in another month. In three years he
desires to add still another hundred To
this end the entire barns have been re-
modelled and refitted. One stable is ar
ranged for "a cows with ~ facing each
other. A unique patent swinging STAN
chion ties the cows and allows perfect
freedom in turning, etc. The droppings
fall into water-tight cellar easy of &C.
cess. A corn silo with capacity of GAO
tons OF fodder has been erected costing
$1,000. This year 40 acres OF corn were
harvested which probably Yields rs
bushels to the acre. The corn, cob and
stalks were put through thresher and
the product conveyed by an endless chain
containing slat cups to the silo. A days
ration Tor a cow is 40 pounds, fed twice
a day, with fodder Of hay at noon.
The milk OF this large dairy is at present
carried to the Charlotte creamery al
though Mr.. Fletcher contemplates max
ing his own butter on the premises later.
From 1900 to 1000 pounds of milk
daily are produced, the highest quantity
1867 pounds having been recorded one
day in June.
An addition to the barn of great value
is an artesian well sunk go feet through
solid slate. The water thus found will
be pumped by windmill into large
stone reservoir measuring 20x15x10 feet
and capable of holding 900 barrels o.
water. This tank is also dug from solid
slate rock 1t is situated on an eminence
north of the building which gives head
with force enough to throw water over
the talest barn. A system OF fire hyd
rants is being installed and supply o
hose purchased for fire protection. AL
together the FLETCHER Dairy Farms
when completed, will be a model Yer
mont farm.