Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1917-03-16
U, S, WILL ENLARGE FARM,
College to Sell BattelI Lands to
Government. Reeord-Breaklna
Attendance Rt Winter Stock
Show


farmers which taxed the capacity cf
the Government buildings at the Morgan
Horse Farm last Friday it was announced
that the Government was planning to
add 600 acres to its holdings, more than
doubling the size of the farm, and that
projects for relating the experiments in
animal husbandry to the farms of this
vicinity were under serious considera-
ton.
The announcement was made by Presi-
dent John M. Thomas in an address
after the luncheon to the largest au-
dience assembled for a Winter Stock
Show since the exhibitions were
started five years ago, President
Thomas said that the Trustees of the
college were approached last summer
by the officials of the Bureau of Animal
Industry with reference to the sale of
some 600 acres in the Drake farm and
the Woodworth and Cotton lands, ad-
jacent to the present Government farm.
They considered that the interest of the
late Joseph Battell in the Morgan farm,
as well as the great possibilities Of bene-
fit to this entire region from the eX-
pansion Of the Governments work in
this vicinity, ought to influence them
to look with favor upon such sale to
the Government. They quoted a price
OF $3.50 exclusive of the water rights.
With this option, which was regarded
as reasonable and fair, the officials Of
the Bureau of Animal Industry, recon-
mended the purchase to the Secretary
of Agriculture, who in turn recon-
mended it to Congress. The Committee
on Agriculture Of the House Of Repre-.
sentatives did not include the item in
their bill, but through the efforts of
Senator Page and Congressman Greene
the bill was amended on the floor of the
Senate and finally passed both houses
with the provision for the purchase in
cluded For the completion Of the
transfer only the preparation of deed
acceptable to both parties is necessary.
Much credit is due to Senator Page
and Congressman Green for their sue
cessful efforts. Southern members now
dominate the agricultural committees
and projects for this section of the
country are not always easy to further.
In connection with this announce
ment President Thomas expressed the
hope that the Department of Agrcul-
ture would consider whether they could
not enlarge their work so as to make it
of more practical benefit t. the farmers
of Vermont. We all admire the Morgan
horse, he said, and like to look at the
beautiful specimens the Farm is breed
ing. But in these times we need
heavier animals and there is not the
profit in light driving horses which
there used to be. If the government
could help US out in improving our cat
tie or show US how we could raise sheep
proftably, their work would be more
appreciated.
In his reply, Mr.. George M. Romme,
chief of the Animal Husbandry Division,
won the favor of his audience i'm
, medatey by saying that it was the de-
sire of the Bureau to render the greatest
possible service to the agricultural in
dustry and that they welcomed all sug-
gestions and criticisms and would meet
them to the best of their ability. But
there were wheels within wheels, he
said, in governmental work and it took
time to make changes. He recognized
the need of larger horses and said the
government was trying to increase the
, size while retaining the characteristics
, of the Morgan, ''the finest horse the
! world ever saw" Results are neces-
! sarily slow in coming, but some i'm
/ provement has already been made and
5 more will follow. AS to cattle and
! sheep, one of the pressing questions in
! the country is how to increase the meat
supply and this is directly in line with
f the Bureaus work. He could not out
line any definite plans, but he could
r promise that all suggestions would be
e considered carefully and he hoped they
= would be made freely.
e Mr.. Romme's remarks were very
= favorably received and it is safe to say
n that the governments work at the
e Weybridge farm will be watched with
T. keener interest than ever before.
, A fine day had much to do with the
= large attendance. There were more
f ladies present than ever before, also 8
: large delegation of students from the
= State Agricultural College. Judge Johr
+ E. Weeks, President of the Agricul
. tural Society, made an address of wei
= come, expressing the appreciation Of
y those present of the attendance of the
s experts from Washington and Burling
n ton. The judging demonstrations were
q followed with keen interest in al