The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-02-03
MASSACHUSETTS GAME FARM
Commission Has Purchased $50 Ac'
res In Wilbraham

Working under an act passed by
the legislature last year, approprla.
ting $4,000 for the establishment OF
game commission has decided upon
the policy of establishing two or
more game farms in different sec
tons of the state. Accordingly the
first start will be made in the town
of Wilbraham. The commission has
leased for term of years $50 acres
of land in the southwest section OF
the town, and work has begun in get
ting the farm under way. a build
ing is being erected, and before
spring opens, yards, pens and coops
will contain large numbers of pleas
ants. quail, Hungarian partridges,
prairie chickens, wild turkeys and
ducks of different species. From
time to time as is required addition
al land will be leased and it is ex-
pected that thousands of birds Will
be sent out from this farm to diner
ent sections OF the state.
Wilbraham which is now noted lor
its celebrated peaches, will soon have
a worldwide reputation as a produc'
er of artistically reared game birds
The section in which this farm is 10
Gated has always been one OF the
best sections of the state for wild
quail and partridge, and the com
mission feel that no better place
could be selected for this game farm
The members of the Springfield FISH
and game association are delighted
over the prospect of having large
state game farm in the western par
of the state, and much credit Is du'
TO their officers in bringing about thu
result Doubtless as soon as I'M
spring opens large numbers oil peopi.
will be interested to observe the oil
ferent game birds and hundreds o
automobiles will daily pass the farm
The commission has leased tn
farm of John IL. Reader, and tw
adjoining tracts, all OF which Is idea
land for game Propagation. Mr. ReaC
er has been successful as raise
l. of chickens and turkeys, and at IN
4 present time has a large flock
{ tame turkeys and one wild Virgin
i turkey. which he Matched for Robel
G o. Morris from eggs received froi
Z, Virginia. This bird is now near
full grown and is a handsome spec
= men of the turkeys that once cove
:. ed all of Western Massachusetts
!, This bird is very tame, and VIII e,
out of Mr.. Readers hand, and readiI
= answers to the name Of wildly. n
Reader will be retained by the cor
mission. The building now beil
erected will be used during the WI
N ter as n shop, in which coops, pei
o." and wards can be built, ready TO I
- ceIye the birds as fast as they a
: shipped from the state game iarm
Sutton. n, m
Superintendent Arthur Merrill vi
Y in Wilbraham yesterday In eompal
/" with Commissioner George II. vi
3D. ham TO make final arrangements /
d. starting the work. The commissl'
!" now has about 500 pheasants ana Z
Quail for breeding stock, beslu
ca large numbers OF Hungarian p'
y fridge duck and prairie chickens
of which will be propagated on
= Wllbraham game farm. Inc y
hoard of commissioners after lookl
NJ game farms in Missouri, llllno
Pennsylvania, New Jersey ana M
n York pronounced the Wilbraham
cation an ideal one for propagaVl
game birds 1900 81.
ed in confinement, and when IN
are at the right age will be shipl
10 different sections Of the state
pa restocking depleted covers. 1t
81. nronosed to allow liberal oonsil
rs ment Of birds to be liberated
etate reservations and in all seouo
where shooting Is prohibited SO