TRAINING YOUNG FARMERS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1690, 5 March 1913, Page 10

TRAINING YOUNG FARMERS.

CAMP AT. MOUMAHAIyI STATE FARM,

Tho Wangatul';, Board of Education (writes a correspondent) is . generally being in*, tho forefront of . . the educational boards of the Dominion \ lin providing facilities for the agricultural instruction of. .boys attending. tho ' high schools iinder their. control., Already two very successful camps havo been hold at Mr. ErnSjsfc;ShorfSi stud farm at Almadale, and with a -view to giving the lads of the southern end of the board' 3 district the same advantages it was decided to hold a camp nt Moumahaki State Farm, to which the boys attending: the high schools of Elthnm, Patea, Hawera, and the Salvation Army Training Home at Eltham were looking forward-, for some time. Tho camp has just ended, and it served a most useful purpose in giving the lads a complete courso of practical agricultural education. Mr. E. A. S. Brown,' Director. for tho Northern District, was in chargo, assisted by, - Captain Hitheroe, Superin- ' ' tondent of - the Salvation. Army's Boys' Home at Eltham. and Mr. Thomas, headmaster of tho Eltham, Higli School. Mr. Lonsdale.'the manager of the farm, and • his staff,'did-everything possiblo'. to enhance tho comfort of tho boys and facilitate their studies. Tho boys, though br no means' overworked, were kept busy, their time being employed partly in practical fariil work and partly in attendance nt lectures,and - demonstrations. They held two large fields of mangolds and'a field ■_ of "swedes, this very useful work being dono by them under expert super- . vision. Mr. Lonsdale gave the, boys some valnnble lessons on live stock—cattle and sheep—explaining to them, the characteristics of the Ayrshire cattlo and demonstrating, with Border' Leicesters and Southdowns, the •difference betweon long and short-woolle.d sheep. He also gave them a clear insight into the value of lucerne fodder purposes, showing it to them as'green feed, hay, and ensilage, the, splendid crop proving in itself a most convincing object lesson. In addition to •Mr. Lonsdale's practical talks, lectures were given by Mr. W. S. Hill, the Department's expert on plant broeding, who ■ dealt more particularly with grasses and N ■ 'pastures; Mr. G. Stratford, orchard inx , structor, on matters xelating to fruit culture, and Mr. Primmer, Government veterinarian, on the ills and treatment of stock. The students wero instructed to take full notes of all lectures, for use in connection witln the studies which they will pursue :in tlieir respective schools. The camp was visited by Mr. G. D. Braik, Direetdr of Primary, Secondary, and Technical Education, and by Mr. James Grant, Instructor of -Agriculture..- Camp was • struck-on-Triday morning. - . .