BOYS AND THE LAND. .

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1248, 4 October 1911, Page 8

BOYS AND THE LAND. .

I'EACTICAL" 'PAKM WOUK. Seventeen from .Feilding, five from \yanganui, fivo from' Marton, and .nine from Taihajxir—theso, says our reildin? ' oorrcspoiulcnt, make up tlio t'lireo dozen schoolboys at present in the first agricultural camp for schoolboys yet held in i the Dominion, which'camp is'on the banks of the Oroua Kiver on Mr. 11. 'Short's . hturt farm, "Almadale," Cheltenham. Mr. " J. Grant,', agricultural instructor for the Wanganui Education Board, conceived and carried out the whole of tho Arrangements for tho camp, selecting Mr. ShoTt's property as .the"site, beca,u=o of the prcsencc thero of the valuable stud stock, and of Mr. J. Dunlop", tiho manager of tho farm, who is npt only ian expert on all matters dealing with fivo.stock, but is a born teacher, and most ivillirijr to impart Ihe information ho possesses. . The idea of the camp, which will stand for a week, is to give to the boys a practical knowledge of farm work, and it is hoped that this will not only be. useful to those who lhave already" made up their minds to settle on the land, but that- it will encourage others - to. interest themselves in this, the most important of all New Zealand's industries. Each lioy had to pay / 7s. Gd. towards tho'cost of tho upkeep ■of'the camp, and in addition those boys ~ who camp from a distanco had to pa.v ■their train fares. ; ' ..'A number of visitors went to thi3 ,'Cainp yesterday, • and durinc 'the course of tho visit Mr. F. Pirani explained that this whs the first camp of its kind in New Zealand, and -he congratulated the .boys taking part in it. In mi editorial , 011-tho subject, the I'oildin.g "Star" says that on Mr. Short's farm .there ■ are -£20,000 worth of. the finest farm stock - iu the Dominion. The lads "will be taken through the whole of the work connected with tho farm iir> a practical manner, .sharing with the employees the drudgery" as well as tho more, scientific side of' tho work, and devoting their evenings to listening to lectures on different aspcclis of rural life. "When it is rempmbered that there are only fifty-four students at the Lincoln Agricultural College, it, will be £een what- a work "is on'the evo of fruition "in, this district. Eyerything'pertaining to the, health of the isludonts at the camp lias been carefully studied, discipline is \ strict, ...but tempered with kindness and camaraderie, and overyone has to take • a . sliare in the . tlutifis so necessary to tho comfort and ' ivellbeing of t'lioso attending the camp. owing to the experiment 'having been commenced under ; such favourable there is sufficient indication to show that it will be a groat success, and haVo a widespread influence on the' success of the rui'al course in the schools throughout the education district."