The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1919-05-22
STATE AGRICULTURAL
SCHOOLS COMMENDED
Favorable Report by he lnvesth
eating Committee Appointed
BY the Vermont Legislature
Schools Worthy Of Continued
Interest and Patronage.


Vermont legislature the discontin'
uance OF one or both OF the state AZ
ricutural schools having been made
an issue. a special Joint committee
was appointed TO visit the schools,
Investigate and report. Its findings
we're distinctly favorable to the
schools. The legislature accepted
the report and evidenced it's approval
and endorsement by renewing the
appropriations in the same amounts
and under the same conditions AZ Tor
the previous two years.
So clearly were the advantages pos
sessed by these schools for impsrting
agricultural education TO the youth
Of Vermont set forth 10 this report
| that II deserves y wide reading. es-
pecially by parents interested in such
a department Of training.
The special committee consisted Of
sub committees representing the com
mittees on education and educational
institutions Of the Senate and House,
10 which was joined the president OF
the legislative Farmer Club. II Wis
tied the Vail school At lyndonville,
March z, and the Vermont State AZ
ricultural school at Randolph, March
10. The committee also secured such
information a. II de. med necessary
from other sources. From its report,
made to the govern 81 and to the
members Of the committees, represent
ed. In taken the following summary;
The Theeaere N. Vail Agricultural
sehsoI and Farns w. LyndeNvtsls.
This school with outlying farms
has an acreage OF ap pr0ximately 1900
acres. About 700 acres are used for
tillage. The balance Of the property
III used for pasture and woodland, ~
cludlng from 30 to 81 acres Of = pine
forestry plantation. I'm the property
there are 1900 sugar naples suit
able for tapping, 6,000 Of which were
tapDed last year. The balance were
not tapped owing to lack Of equip
ment. The State maintains the
school on an annual appropriation OF
S22,500 and the farm Is better than
self-supporting.
6uiIdinss and Equipment
The buildings on Speedvell farm.
which IL the farm upon which the
school is located, are Of modern con-
etructiOn and equipped with strictly
up-to-date farm appliances. These
buildings are in a remarkably good
state OF repair and have the appear
ance Of being well cared for. The
buildings on the outlying farms are
the ordinary type Of Vermont farm
buildings and SO far as your COM
mttee was able to judge from its in
spec,ion, are in excellent condition
and maintained in good state OF
repair They are not as pretentious
as the buildings on Speedwell farm,
but will compare very favorably with
the farm buildings found on most OF
our up-to-date Vermont farms.
Water Syutem.
Speedwell farm, ard the adjacent
buildings and those other buildings
not maintaining their own water sys-
TEN are supplied with water from
Chandler pond, which is located in
the town of Whee!ocE and is included
in the deed of gift from Theodore n
Vail and wife to the State. The
water pressure is so arranged as to
supply an excellent FIRE protection
for the farm buildings and the dor
mitory at Speedwell farm. There Is
ample hose connection and the stu
dents and farm lab0rers are drilled
in the use Of the hose cart in case OF
a fire emergency.
Electric Light Plant.
The electric light plant which is
located on the CahO0n falls, Passump-
sic river. is thoroughly equipped and
well maintained. This electric light
plant supplies electricity for illu-
minating and power purposes to
Speedwell farm, the Vail residence
and Lyndon Institute and in the judg
ment of your committee 10 valua-
Bile water right for the State to re-
tain.
Live Stock and Farm Equipment.
Your committee found the live
stock in excellent condition. OF the
222 cattle. there are 129 mich cows
OF excellent dairy type. registered
Brown Swiss and registered Guern-
sey bull. The young stock are very
promising. The dairy Is complete In
every detail. About one COW In ten
in the herd Is thoroughbred and the
balance represents very high class
stock. The "a horses include one
thoroughbred Morgan stallion and
two Percheron stations, used for
breeding purposes, q work horses Of
the best farm type. S thoroughbred
Percheron mares, ] registered Shire
mare, colts and 2 driving hOrses.
The s. swine are mostly Chester
White and the ZIG sheep are large
and well selected and are headed BY
one registered Shropshire and one
registered Oxford ram. The
poultry are White Leghorns. Barred
Plymouth Rocks and White Wyan-
dottes. The White Leghorns, which
predeninate In numbers, are from
the best strain.
Farm Machinery and Tssia
There ID 2 complete list OF Agrfcul-
tursl machinery and tools including
Fordson tractor. all In excellent con
dition- The repairs and painting
necessary upon this equipment are
done almost entirely BY students Of
the school.
The De~switsry.
The dormitory vas formerly . farm
house and has been enlarged and a.
tered 20 a. 70 make II suitable for
dormitory purposes. Al present u
Win accommodate about % boys. The
toilet and bsfhing facilities are OF
A~.-