Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1919-05-21
STATE AGRICULTURAL
SCHOOLS 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 di5contin-
uance of one or both of the state az
ricultural schools having been maze
an issue, special joint committee
was appointed to visit the schools,
investigate and report. It's findings
were 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 as for
the previous two years.
So clearly were the advantages pos
sessed by these schools for imparting
agricultural education to the youth
that it deserves a 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,
to which was joined the president of
the legislative Farmers Club. 1t Wis
tied the Vail school at Lyndonville,
March Z 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 it's 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 Lyndonvine.
This school with outlying farms
has an acreage of approximately 1906
acres. About 700 acres are used for
tillage. The balance of the property
is used for pasture and woodland, in
Guiding from 80 to 80 acres of a pine
forestry plantation. On the property
there are $4,000 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
$4,000 and the farm is better than
3elf-supporting.
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
upto-date farm appliances. These
buildings are in remarkably good
state of repair and have the appear
ance of being we'll cared for. The
buildings on the outlying farms are
The ordinary tyne OF Vermont farm
buildings and SO far as your com
mittee was able to Judge from its in
snection, are in excellent condition
and maintained in good state OF
repair. They are not as pretentious
IS the buildings on Speedwell farm
but will compare very favorably with
the farm buildings found on most OF
cur up-to-date Vermont farms.
Water System.
Speedwell farm and the adjacent
buildings and those other buildings
not maintaining their own water sys-
TEN are supplied with water from
Chandler pond, which is located ir
the town of Wheelock and is included
in the deed of gift from Theodore N
Vail and wife to the State. The
water pressure is so arranged as tt
supply an excellent fire protection
for the farm buildings and the dor
mitory at Speedweil farm. There is
ample hose connection and the stu
dents and farm laborers are drilled
in the use of the hose cart in case o.
fire emergency
Electric Light Plant.
! The electric light plant, which i.
located on the CahOon falls, Passump
sic river, is thoroughly equipped anC
well maintained. This electric ligh
plant supplies electricity for illu
minating and power purposes t
Speedwell farm. the Vail residence
and Lyndon Institute and N the judg
ment of your cCr, Tittee is 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 cow
| of excellent dairy type, l registered
Brown Swiss and / registered Guern
sey bull. The young stock are yer,
promising. The dairy is complete il
every detail. About one COW in ter
in the herd is thoroughbred and thu
balance represents very high class
stock. The "a horses include ont
thoroughbred Morgan stallion ant
two Percheron stations, used TO
breeding purposes, q work horses o
the best farm type, Thoroughbred
Percheron mares, l registered Shir'
mare, colts and 2 driving horses
The IS swine are mostly Cheste
White and the 116 sheep are larg'
and we'll selected and are headed b.
one registered Shropshire and on,
registered Oxford ram. Thu
poultry are White Leghorns, Barred
Plymouth Rocks and White Wyan
dottes. The White Leghorns, whicl
predominant in numbers, are from
the best strain.
Farm Machinery and Tools.
There is complete list Of agricul
tmal 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.
The Dormitory.
The dormitory was formerly q farf
house and has been enlarged and al
tered so as to make 1t suitable TO
dormitory purposes. At present 1
will accommodate about go boys. Tn