Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-06-28

II may be of interest to know some Of
the ways in which the university has re-
sponded to the present war emergency.
One Of the most urgent demands made
has been the increased production OF food
supplies and the conservation and effl-
cient use of food materials. Ninety per
cent. Of the students in the college OF ag-
riculture left several weeks ago to en-
gage in productive work--in farm opera
ton, in garden supervision or In agri-
cultural extension activities; and FIVE per
cent left for Plattsburgh training camp.
The remaining five per cent. took up some
other form of activity. In this emergency
all Of the men In the college Of agricul-
ture forsook the classroom In order to
learned to some form Of patriotic SER
vice.
The home economics department is pro-
viding just the leadership that the wom-
en- Of Vermont need at this time when
conservation of food supplies Is impera-
lively demanded. The head of this de-
partment and her assistants, including
some of the young women students, are
going about the State giving demonstra-
lions and telling the housewives the prac-
tical things they are so anxious to learn
concerning the preservation Of foods and
the elimination of waste. At least so Of
these demonstrations have been held and
this work will not stop with the close Of
the college year.
The agricultural extension service Of
the university has been very great SER
vice to the State. At the beginning of the
crisis the county agents were summoned
here for a conference and programs were
arranged for the various counties. Pub
lie meetings in cooperation with the COM
mittee of public safety we're held in every
county in which there was county
agent, and the gospel of agricultural pre-
paredness was preached by representa-
tives of this service. Thousands Of post
ers were issued broadcast throughout the
State calling attention to the vital need
of an increased crop production. A seed
survey was conducted and $4,000 seed
questionaires were sent out asking for
information regarding available kinds and
varieties for sale and kinds and amounts
| needed by farmers. These replies were
| mailed back to the central Office to be
| sorted and tabulated and were then re-
turned to the proper county agents. This
service made possible in no small measure
the increased crop acreage in Vermont
this year. vast amount of information
according to scientific methods has been
given by telephone from the central office
| and by the county agents. Each county
agents office has been made an agricul.
tural employment bureau. A production
| and conservation series of bulletins, 81
in number, has been issued, IA Of which
related to agriculture and 20 to home
economies These have been issued ir
editions Of 10000 and 5000 copies respec
! lively.
From six to eight men have been II
the field since June / at the expense Of
the extension service visiting farmers ant
getting the cost of milk production at thu
request Of the Boston Chamber of Com
merce transmitted through the commit
tee of public safety.
The Boys and Girls club work with
the cooperation of the bankers of tn,
and promises much for better agriculture
conditions. The extension service ha!
been instrumental in the introduction o
alfalfa and soy beans which provide i'm
portant additions to the farmers feedinl
stuffs and at the same time benefits tn
soil. Farm management demonstration
work has been conducted. potato demon
stration trains have been operated. ex
tension schools have been held durin
the winter and business methods Of farr
bookkeeping have been introduced. Al
these things are in addition to the regu
lar inspection Of seed, fertilizer, feed an
creamery glassware carried on for tn
benefit Of Vermont farmers.
One-third of the senior class of tn
College of Medicine has enlisted in tn
Naval Reserve Corps and other mem
bers have taken preliminary steps to
L orl hn iA<
Plans are being made for the organiza
ton of hospital unit in which the Col
lege Of Medicine will have important par
1t is expected that next fall a medics
extension course will be arranged where
by members of the Medical Faculty wi
. deliver in various parts of the State il
Illustrated lectures on various topics {
: interest connected with health and san
tation.
Students from the College of Engineerin
are at the Plattsburg camp and at tn
Engineering Training camp at Belvoi
Virginia. In order to meet the needs {
the present day, it is proposed to Civ
several courses in military engineerin
I subjects next year. These will includ
camp sanitation. road construction q
applied to military necessities. railroa
o rebuilding behind the lines. bridge cor
=. IStTuctlOI, Speclai mechanics AS related
I aviation, manufacturing munitions. a,
= tomobile and aeroplane engineering. wir'
less biography. searchlight work. fie
telephone work and electric lighting.
This summary does not include all Il
activities of the University. Some me
!, have gone into Red Cross service. othel
. have enlisted in the Marine Corps ar
= in other forms of military and nav
u service. There is no disposition to evat
the service which the nation has a rigl
to demand in it's hour of need and in I
% institution is College sentiment mo-
= unanimous in approving the action
- this government in it's defense Of demo
. racy than in the University of Vermont
d ENTERS SECOND CENTUR
d Phenomenally Long Life Of q Viii