Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1919-05-30
IMPROVEMENT AT
GOVERNMENT FARM

GOVERNMENT FARM
The enclosed report of the commit
tee appointed by President Darling of
The Morgan Horse Club, at the request
OF DIR. Mohler, Chief of Bureau Animal
Industry, Department of Agriculture
Washington, d. c., shows that there is
Ia great improvement at the Govern
ment Farm, at Middlebury, Vermont
from last years visit by this same
Committee.
Mr. A. E. Darling Pres,
Morgan Horse Club,
East 18th st.
New York City,
My dear Sir
In accordance with an
appointment, l, as a member of YOUR
committee went to Brandon, Vermont,
to meet the officials of the Bureau of
Animal Industry, on Saturday, April
70, 1919. Mr. H. r. Lawrence of Brat
tleDoro, Vermont, another member of
your committee, joined us there on
that date and we then proceeded to
visit the Government Farm at Middle
bury, Vermont,
DR.. John R. Mohler Chief of the
Bureau of Animal Industry and a Mr..
Williams one of his staff, were the rep
resentatives of the Bureau.
We devoted all of that dav and A
portion of the following one to making
a thorough investigation of the me
thods pursued and an inspection of the
Morgan Stud at the Middlebury Farm
About year had elapsed since your
committee made their initial visit and
subsequent recommendations for the
betterment of the conditions existing
there. During that time Mr.. H. H.
Reese had been directed to assume
charge of the Farm as Animal Hus-
bandman. His intelligent execution of
the orders of the Bureau, the recon-
mendations and suggestions previously
made by your committee, and the adop-
ton OF recognized methods has resulted
in a most noticeable improvement, not
only III the stock itself but in the gen
eral management and appearance of the
Farm.
One of his wisest deeds was the sub
stitution of Troubador as Premier Stall
lion in lieu of the discredited and un-
suitable General Gates, with Donlin
and Dundee as Reserves. Bennington,
Scotland and other Stations not ap-
proved for use at Middlebury had been
transferred to the so-called Remount
service, thus eliminating as far as pos
sible the use of Stations at the Farm
whose blood lines were not considered
valuable or advantageous for the re-
production of the Morgan type.
Such horses as Hamlet, Jetmore and
Forester had been either sold or dis
posed Of as well as some of the young
er stock that in breeding or conforma-
ton failed to approach the standard
they are trying to establish
Mr.. Reese among other things issued
an order which made the regular exer-
cising of the Stations a daily duty.
This resulted in a development in con-
formation and condition that material
" increased their value. Few brood
mares of recognized merit remained up
VII tAAS 4 al III L llO DCSl vi lHNlll dlC Olu
and immediate steps should be taken
to replace them. The lack of necessary
funds owing to the meagre appropria-
ton made for their maintenance and
prevents the Bureau of Ami
NAL Industry from doing so until the
proper financial fund is established for
that purpose.
The hearty cooperation of Mr. Mob
Ter, Mr.. Williams and Mr. Reese in the
suggestions made by your committee
deserves special notice, and were these
officials given a reasonable financial
and moral support we might expect
still greater improvement in the type of
animal produced there.
The use of Jerome last season, al
though very limited in its scope, will
give them this season an infusion of
the Billy Root blood which cannot but
make its mark later on.
To Messrs Mohler, Williams and
Reese the members of your committee
are indebted for extreme courtesies and
an opportunity to learn the real status
Of affairs under their jurisdiction at
this particular Farm.
The one great factor now needed is
support and we earnestly de-
commend that you, as President Of the
Morgan Horse Club, ask the members
If Congress and United States Senators
the State of Vermont to
i've this important matter their seri-
Jus and favorable consideration.
Respectfully submitted,
Chas. A. Benton.
II. R. Lawrence