90 VERMONT AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



THE VERMONT EXPERIMENT STATION AND SOME 



OF ITS WORK. 



By Cassius Peck, Farm Superintendent, at a meeting of the 

 Board of Agriculture in Wolcott. 



The Vermont Experiment Station was established by an 

 actof the Vermont Legislature passed in 1886, whereby -$3, 500 

 annually was appropriated to carry on the work. The 

 duties of the Experiment Station included the analysis 

 of soils, feeds, milk, butter, water, fertilizers and other 

 substances provided in the judgment of the Station staff such 

 analysis would promote the public welfare. The provisions of 

 this act attached the Experiment Station to the University of 

 Vermont and State Agricultural College and placed it under 

 its supervision. 



The clause requiring the Station to carry on experimental 

 work with the various new fodder crops and feeding stuffs, 

 necessitated the purchase of a farm. This farm was located in 

 South Burlington, three and one-half miles from the college 

 grounds. Upon trial it was found to be too far removed to be 

 of use as an experiment farm and in 1 891, land was purchased 

 adjoining the college grounds and suitable buildings erected 

 consisting of farm house, two barns, creamery and green 

 house. The barns are 106 by 46 feet and 60 by 26 

 feet, while the three ells are 40 by 34, 40 by 36 feet 

 and 30 by 20 feet. The barns are used for storing hay, 

 straw, etc. , and have three silos. The ells are used for carriage 

 house, horse barn and storage for farm machinery. The green 

 house where experiments are carried on under the heads of 

 the several departments is 80 by 24 feet. The creamery build- 

 ing where the experimental work with the milk of the Station 

 herd is carried on and the balance prepared for market is 75 by 

 36 feet in dimensions. The dairy school which has become 

 very popular is conducted in this building. Annual sessions 

 have been held for eight years, beginning the second week in 

 January and continuing for one month. Eighty applications 

 were received for the session of 1898, but the accommodations 

 are limited to fifty students. Twelve separators were in use, 

 nine hundred pounds of milk were separated daily and results 



