Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-05-29
STATE AGRICULTURAL
SCHOOLS COMMENDED
Report by the Investi-
eating Committee Appointed
by the Vermont Legislature
Schools Worthy of Continued
Interest and Patronage.

During the recent session of the Ver-
mont Legislature the discontinuance of
one or both of the State agricultural
schools having been made an issue, a
special joint committee was appointed
to visit the schools, Investigate ana re-
port. It's findings were distinctly favor
able 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, especially by
of training.
The special committee consisted Of
subcommittee representing the COM
mittees on education and educational in
situations of the Senate and House, to
which was Joined the president of the
legislative Farmers club. 1t visited the
Vail school at Lyndonville, March z, and
| the Vermont State Agricultural school
| at Randolph, March 10. The committee
| also secured such information as 1t
deemed necessary from other sources.
From it's report. made to the Governor
and to the members of the committees,
represented, is taken the following sum-
mary:
THE THEODORE N. VAIL AGRICUL-
TURAL SCHOOL AND FARMS
| AT LYNDONVILLE
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 pas
ture and woodland, including from 30 to
80 acres of a pine forestry plantation.
On the property there are 1000 sugar
naples suitable 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 s22,5oo and
the farm is better than self-supporting.
BUILDINGS AND EQUIPMENT
The buildings on Speedwell farm,
which Is the farm upon which the school
is located, are of modern construction
and equipped with strictly up-to-date
farm appliances. These buildings are
in remarkably good state of repair and
have the appearance Of being we'll cared
for. The buildings on the outlying farms
are the ordinary type of Vermont farm
buildings and so far as your committee
was able to Judge from its inspection,
are in excellent condition and main
tanned in a 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 Ver-
mont farms.
WATER SYSTEM
Speedwell farm and the adjacent build
ings and those other buildings not main
tanning their own water system are sup
piled with water from Chandler pond
which is located in 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 az
to supply an excellent fire protection for
the farm buildings and the dormitory
, at Speedwell farm. There is ample hose
connection and the students and farm
laborers 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 Cahoon falls Passumpsic
river, is thoroughly equipped and wei
1 supplies electricity for illuminating and
, power purposes to Speedwell farm. the
Vail residence and Lyndon Institute ant
in the judgment of your committee is a
valuable water right for the State to re-
tain.
LIVESTOCK AND FARM EQUIPMENT
Your committee found the livestock II
excellent condition. OF the 222 cattle
| oh,
dairy type. one registered Brown Swis:
and one registered Guernsey bull. Tn,
young stock are very promising. TIL,
dairy is complete in every detail Abou
one COW in ten in the herd Is thorough
bred and the balance represents a yer,
high class stock. The "a horses include
one thoroughbred Morgan stallion ant
| two Percheron stations, used for breed
ing purposes, q work horses Of the bes
farm type. five thoroughbred Percherol
mares, one registered Shire mare, eigh
colts and two driving horses. The S
| swine are mostly Chester White and tn
Pie sheep are large and we'll selected an
are headed by one registered Shropshir
and one registered Oxford ram. TIL
poultry are White Leghorns, Barre
Plymouth Rocks and White Wyandottes
The White Leghorns, which predomi
| Hdte III HunpeTs, are from tne DeS
strain.
FARM MACHINERY AND TOOLS
There is a complete list of agricul
tural machinery and tools including
: Fordson tractor, all in excellent condi
ton. The repairs and painting neces
sary upon this equipment are done almos
entirely by students of the school.
l. THE DORMITORY
The dormtory was formerly farr
house and has been enlarged and altere
IS SO as to make 1t suitable for dormtor
n purposes. At present It will accommo
1t date about an boys. The toilet and bath
e, ing facilities are of the best. The room
n are simply furnished but we'll kept TIL
a kitchen is equipped with cold storag
"a plant and the dining hall and sittin
IS rooms are attractive rooms. The foo
Is furnished the pupils is mostly supple
from Speedwell farm and is of exceed
s. ingly good quality.
}" THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
=. In the summer of 1918, the pony stabl
at Speedwell farm was made over int
an administration building. comprisin
% one large recitation room, a library tha
j. Is also used for study and recitatio
10 purposes, two offices and recreatio
IN room. which is sometimes used for class
10 room purposes. The expenses of thes
alterations were betrayed from the pre-
n ceeds of the farm and the alteration
BIB were made very largely by the student