Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1919-05-23
THE STATE SCHOOLS
ARE COMMENDED
Favorable Report by the Investi-
eating Committee Appointed
by the Vermont Legislature
Schools Worthy of Continued
Interest and Patronage.

During the recent session of the
Vermont legislature the discontin-
uance of one or both Of the state ag.
ricultural schools having been maze
an issue special joint committee
was appointed to visit the schools,
investigate and report. Its findings
were distinctly favorable to the
schools. The legislature accepted
the report and evidenced its approval
and endorsement by renewing the
appropriations in the same amounts
and under the same conditions as for
the previous two years
So clearly were the advantages pos
sessed by these schools for imparting
agricultural education to the youth
of Vermont set forth in this report
that it deserves a wide reading, es-
pecally by parents interested in such
department of training.
The special committee consisted Of
sub committees representing the com
mittees on education and educational
institutions of the Senate and House,
to which was joined the president Of
the legislative Farmers Club. 1t Wis
tied the Vail school at Lyndonville,
March 7, and the Vermont State Ag-
ricultural school at Randolph, March
10. The committee also secured such
information as it deemed necessary
from other sources. From its report,
made to the governor and to the
members of the committees, represent
ed is taken the following summary;
The Theodore N. Vail Agricultural
School and Farms at LyndonViIle.
This school with outlying farms
has an acreage of approximately 1900
acres. About 700 acres are used for
tillage. The balance Of the PROPERTY
is used for pasture and woodland, in
Guiding from 80 to 50 acres Of pine
forestry plantation. On the property
there are 10000 sugar naples suit
able for tapping, 5000 of which were
tapped last year The balance were
not tapped owing to lack of equip
; ment. The State maintains the
school on an annual appropriation OF
S22,50O and the farm is better than
self-supportng.
Buildings and Equipment
The buildings on Speedwell farm
which is the farm upon which the
school is located, are of modern con
struction 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
mittee was able to judge from its in
spection. are in excellent condition
and maintained in a good state Of
repair. They are not as pretentious
as the buildings on Speedwell farm
but will compare very favorably witt
the farm buildings found on most Of
our up-to-date Vermont farms.
Water System,
Speedwell farm and the adjacent
buildings and those other building,
not maintaining their own water sys
tenn are supplied With water from
Chandler pond, which is located il
the town of Wheelock and is include,
in the deed of gift from Theodore N
Vail and wife to the State. Thu
water pressure is so arranged as t
supply an excellent fire protection
for the farm buildings and the dor
mitory at Speedwell farm. There i,
ample hose connection and the stu
dents and farm laborers are drilled
in the use of the hose cart in case o
a fire emergency.
Electric Light Plant.
The electric light plant, which il
located on the CahOon falls, Passump
sic river, is thoroughly equipped an
well maintained. This electric ligh
plant supplies electricity for illu
minating and power purposes tt
Speedwell farm, the Vail residence
and Lyndon Institute and in the iudg
ment of your committee is a valua
Bile water right for the State to re
tain.
Live Stock and Farm Equipment.
Your committee found the liv,
stock in excellent condition OF tht
222 cattle, there are 129 mich cow
of excellent dairy type, l registered
Brown Swiss and l registered Guern
sey bull. The young stock are verl
promising The dairy Is complete il
every detail. About one COW in tel
in the herd is thoroughbred and tn
balance represents a very high class
stock The "a horses include on,
thoroughbred Morgan stallion ant
two Percheron stations used TO
breeding purposes, q work horses o
the best farm type, thoroughbred
Percheron mares, registered Shirt
mare, 8 colts and 2 driving horses
The So swine are mostly Cheste
White and the 116 sheep are largr
and we'll selected and are headed b!
one registered Shropshire and on
registered Oxford ram. Tit
poultry are White Leghorns, Barred
: Plymouth Rocks and White Wyan
dottes. The White Leghorns, which
predominant in numbers, are from
the best strain.
2 Farm Machinery and Tools.
There is a complete list Of agricul
tural machinery and tools including
Fordson tractor, all in excellent con
dition. The repairs and painting
necessary upon this equipment ar
done almost entirely by students o
the school.
r The Dormltory.
, The dormitory was formerly a tarn
house and has been enlarged and al
tered so as to make it suitable To-