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"Villanti is probably one of our most aggressive students," commented Mr. Moseley.

Mr. Moseley has noted four improved practices which this veteran-student put into effect on the Marini farm: Installation of disinfectant mats in trays at entrances to all brooder and growing pens; effective use of hydrated lime in deep litter; construction of a sanitary dispostal pit; and introduction of new feeding practices which resulted in no soft-shell pullet eggs for the first time on the farm. To date, Mr. Villanti has successfully reared 13,400 chicks, with more being added each month. He is now ready for a second step toward establishment. He has started construction of a turkey platform and shelter on his own place in Ipswich, and plans, with the help of Mrs. Villanti, to raise 300 broad-breasted bronze turkeys this summer.-E. M. S.

[From the Christian Science Monitor, Boston, Wednesday, April 23, 1947]

VETERANS LEARN ABOUT PIGS IN BUILDING FARM FUTURE

This is the third of five articles dealing with on-the-job farm training for World War II veterans in Essex County.

(By a staff correspondent of the Christian Science Monitor)

WEST PEABODY, MASS., April 22.-Twelve hundred pigs represent just a lot of hams, bacon, and sausages to many people.

But, to two young veterans of World War II-Nels Witman, formerly with the Navy in the Pacific, and Joseph Hedges, who served with the Army Signal Corps these pigs, and the study they are putting into them, represent a profitable farm future.

Witman's hog farm is rented at present by Harlgar Witman, who came to this country from Sweden in 1921. Formerly a shop worker, he turned to raising hogs only 3 years ago and was joined by his son Nels when the latter was honorably discharged from the service last October. Nels is single and his only farm experience has been on this place.

He began taking the on-the-job training program with the Essex County Agricul tural School last fall, and is very much interested in the prospect for raising hogs on a large scale. He hopes, when circumstances permit, to go into partnership with his father and together to purchase their own farm.

Joseph Hedges, after his discharge from the Signal Corps, started working at the General Electric Co.'s plant in Lynn, Mass., where he lived. When the strike came, he heard that Mr. Witman needed help on his hog farm and he applied. He immediately became interested in raising hogs, and signed up under the GI bill with the vocational-agricultural-placement program of the Essex County School in June 1946.

"These two boys make an excellent team, along with Mr. Witman," commented their traveling instructor from the school, Willis Petty, who calls regularly each week for the 3 hours of intensive study that go to make up part of the training program.

"They thoroughly enjoy their work and both are making good," Mr. Petty added.

Mr. Witman keeps about 70 purebred Poland China sows for breeding along with a number of Yorkshire white boars, and he raises some 900 young pigs annually.

Young Hedges is married, and his wife is giving him a great deal of encouragement in his combined working and studying program. Both look forward to the day when they may have a hog farm of their own.

"Western methods of hog raising are far different from those we practice here. I've found out through my school studies," Mr. Hedges commented. "Everything there is on a different scale, with larger ranges and the corn feeding. Here, we have to rely largely on our daily garbage collection in Marblehead and other nearby places. We buy about six carloads a week, and collect another six truckloads.

"In addition, we buy a lot of waste potatoes, bakery products, bread crumbs. and flour that has spilled from broken containers. These make excellent feed for the growing stock."

With Mr. Witman cooperating in the training with the school's traveling instructor, both these young veterans are receiving much practical experience that is expected to serve them in many ways when they come to branch out for themselves.-E. M. S.

[From the Christian Science Monitor, Boston, Saturday, April 26, 1947]

GI WHO SERVED ON BATAAN JOINS DAD IN DAIRY PLAN

This is the fourth of five articles dealing with on-the-job farm training for World War II veterans in Essex County.

(By Everett M. Smith, staff correspondent of the Christian Science Monitor)

AMSBURY, Mass., April 26.-Philip Roy spent a year with the Truck Division of the Thirty-third Batallion, Sixth Army, in the Philippines, Bataan, and New Guinea, fighting his way with his buddies through jungle swamps. And he brought back a pet monkey to his home here.

But, today, there's no monkey business with Philip as he diligently pursues his course of study under the GI bill. His on-the-job training on a full-time farm-placement program is being provided by the Essex County Agricultural School. Philip has gone into partnership with his father, and he knows that someday he may have to take full charge.

According to Carroll Hawkes, his traveling instructor from the school, who visits him each week with lesson assignments, Philip is making rapid progress on his partnership-ownership project.

His course consists of the care, feeding, and management of the dairy cows and young stock. He's learning how to raise the best roughage for feeding the dairy animals, managing the pasture for the production of the most and best feed possible.

"He will also take the care and processing of milk, the keeping of accounts, and the study of practical farm management," Mr. Hawkes added.

Philip knows his way around the farm, having been brought up there with 6 other children in the family. He's married today, with two little girls of his own-Shirley and Phyllis. They both furnish ample encouragement in his milking work.

Philip's father kept a small herd of cows, from which he retailed raw milk. He also raised some vegetables which he sold to local markets in Amesbury. While Philip was growing up, he performed the chores usually expected of farm boys. On his return from service, Philip joined with his father in increasing the herd from 15 to 20 cows. Both are planning now to increase their milk business from 100 quarts a day to around 400 quarts. At present, they are busy remodeling a concrete building on the farm into a modern dairy house in which they will install a complete pasteurizing plant.

Philip felt that he needed further education in order to build up the milk business, so signed up under the GI bill for his present dairy course. In addition to the practical experience on the farm under his father's guidance, Philip spends at least 5 hours each week on his studies, with an additional 3 hours weekly under Mr. Hawkes' tutelage.

[From the Christian Science Monitor, Boston, Monday, April 28, 1947]

WAR VETERAN FINDS SUCCESS WITH GROWING CHICKEN FARM

This is the last of five articles dealing with on-the-job farm training for World War II veterans in Essex County.

(By Everett M. Smith, staff correspondent of the Christian Science Monitor)

HAVERHILL, MASS.-Younger veterans of World War II frequently find little difficulty today in swinging back into peacetime pursuits. However, it's not always so easy for the older vets. George W. H. Thompson of this city was 40 and single when he was drafted in 1942.

When he was honorably discharged a year later, he came home and started in the poultry business in a small way. Like many another neophyte poultryman, he experienced plenty of struggles. It was not an easy task. Frequently, he was discouraged.

When the GI bill of rights provided on-the-job training for veterans, Mr. Thomp son quickly took advantage of the plan and enrolled in an ownership project with the Essex County Agricultural School. Each week, Carroll Hawkes, a traveling instructor from the school, visits him for 3 hours, going over the lesson assignments, and shaping up his course of study.

"His instruction at present," said Mr. Hawkes, "is in the care, feeding, and management of laying and breeding flocks under his care. Incubating and brooding of the young birds is stressed in his course, as well as is the keeping of poultry and feed accounts."

Two years ago, Mr. Thompson built himself a two-story hen house. Last year, he raised about 600 pullets which he housed through the last winter. He also raised about 85 turkeys last summer, selling part of the flock for meat and keeping the balance of about 30 of the best birds for breeders.

This past winter he bought a wood lot, where he cuts timber with which he plans to build a large addition to the hen house and construct a brooder house. He also purchased a 2,500-egg electric incubator, which is giving very good results. He expects to brood about 2,880 chicks this summer so he will be able to house 1,200 pullets. He also hopes to raise 300 turkeys this summer.

Since Mr. Thompson started his agricultural course, he has practiced rigid culling of his laying flocks, looking for better ranges for his growing stock. He also is selecting his breeding stock with greater care, and this year he has purchased a large number of hatching eggs to build up a new and better strain of Rhode Island Reds for his next year's breeding stock.

Today, Mr. Thompson is happily married, and has a 2-year-old daughter, Doris, who has helped this older veteran in his ambition to attain some degree of independency from the struggle he has been going through.

Senator MORSE. I would like to ask the administrative assistant to make very clear to the members of the subcommittee that I am anxious to have an executive meeting and a voting meeting at 2 o'clock this afternoon, because we have three things I want to have ready for the Thursday full committee meeting. One is this bill. The other is the termination date on the GI bill, and the third is the bill that we had hearings on but had not taken a vote on the other day.

(Whereupon the hearing adjourned at 11:30 a. m., Tuesday, June 10, 1947.)

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