WOMEN FARMERS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 96, 16 January 1918, Page 2

WOMEN FARMERS

THEIR WORK AT COWRA. Great Britain is not the only place in the world to-day where women arc wearing breeches and leggings and masculine coats, and doing what has hitherto been regarded as moil's work alone. A batch of about thirty Australian girls are enjoying all these privileges on tho Government Training Farm at Cowra, states the "Sydney Sunday Times." There has loug been a demand for an Agricultural Training College where women could gain the necessary information to equip them'in earning a living by following these pursuits. The Government attempted, ■ through the Department of Labour and Industry, to do something in the matter of establishing a training farm at Pitt Town. This, ovideutly, was not the suceebs it was intended to he, for it was closed some time ago. Then the Department of Agriculture stepped into tho breach by taking over the former students at Pitt Town and settling them on the Cowra Farm, which had formerly been occupied by an insignificant' number of male apprentices. The Training Farm is about two and a half miles from the town, and has an area of about 1000 acres. The balance is devoted to dairying and-sheep-I'aisiug. The main crop grown is wheat, but the rotations practised include rape and barley, held peas, vetches, etc., which are used as fodder crops for sheep in conjunction with the natural pasture on the 300 acres utilised for this purpose. ; The students are thus familiarised with the work of wheat-growing in a manner which is applicable to a very larce area of the State. Maize, oats, lucerno, and other orops are grown, and the various operations undertaken by tho students. . Sheep-raising is also carried on fairly extonsiyely. In the dairy section there is a herd, of Jersey cows, and butter-making is carried on. Cheesc.taaking will be started in the near future. Students are taught the practical work of the fruit-grower—pruning, grafting, budding, spraying, packing, and preserving. Strawberry culture is also carried on in conjunction with the orchard. The vegetable garden is another, section of the farm. The breeding of pigs is also taught. Poultry and agricultural sections have been established and arrangements made to give students both practical and theoretical instruction. Students are also instructed in bookkeeping; an essential and muck-ne-glected equipment of the farmer. • Students are not allowed to specialise in any- one subject, but are given instruction • and demonstrations in all branches of the work carried oil' at the farm, including a knowledge of cooking and other household work. A purely nominal fee of £5 for board, lodging, and instruction for a period of six months is charged. If a student gives satisfaction in her Tvork and conduct the Department is prepared to give her a second six months entirely free of charge. There are five instructors always in attendance, including the manager and Mrs. Hassal, the former instructor in dairy work at the Pitt Town Farm. Besides the. daily instruction received from this staff, the students have the and exceptional advantage of receiving occasional lectures and demonstrations from tho different Government experts who visit the farm from time to time. There is no reason, given such unusually promising conditions, why the Cowra Farm Bnould not expand. Those who graduate as farmers from the college will certainly set out in their new career equipped with n supply of knowledge which witli application nnd a fair amount of luck (with regard to seasons), should bring them in good financial returns. What is more (judging by the robust physique and rosy checks of tho students) they will set out an a career which will bring them, as well, one nf the greatest boons on earth—and that is good health.