TRAINING OF WOMEN FARMERS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 29, 29 October 1918, Page 3

TRAINING OF WOMEN FARMERS

A FARM AND GARDEN SCHOOL.

How women are trained in dairy farming and horticulture in England is outlined iii the following article which appeared in "The Queen," which should be of interest to many women in New Zealand, a country, curiously enough, considering-that ic is so largely agricultural mind pastoral, is ine of the most backward in offering facilities for tho training of women in such interesting and useful work. This'centre for training was established by tho Women's League at the Cottesmore Hunt Kennels near Oakham (Rutlandshire), which has been converted into a comfortable hostel, affording accommodation for 30 students.

The training consists or a three nionths' -course, and its aims aro three in number—to provide a short and thorough training for women of means, so as to enable them'to manage their own dairies or teach those around them; to train women who wish to become professional dairy workers or gardeners; and to render courses available to those who cannot afford an expensive school, by charging a. minimum fee and providing a limited number of loan trainings.

Many students have already passed through, and are now working all over England. A- more light-hearted, healthy-looking contingent of young women than that to which introduction was made one evening, .in their recreation hall at Cottesmore, one could not imagine. A lecturer from tlie Board 6f Agriculture was telling them how to spray potatoes, and with the' help of lantern slides, illustrating the making of the spraying mixture and\the reasons for spraying, in the form of the various diseases to which that valuable product of mother earth is prone, their causes and cure. There had been no time to change, and the .students were still in working garb—the trim, wpllcut drill breeches and coat, serviceable boots, and becoming hat of the Women's Land uniform. By 9 o'clock the weary workers began to retire.

Early to bed is followed ,by early s to rise, and when most people are still in dreamland the girls are off to the milking on n neighbouring dairy farm, where they undergo their practical training. Half-past six sees them at work in the sheds, warm with the breath of the ■cows and fragrant with the odour of new milk. Each girl milks three or , more cows. (One girt who has recently completed her training is now milkins a herd of twelve Jersey cows and managing the dairy alone.) The milking instructress and another girl who are permanently engaged at tho farm then start on the milk. round to the neighbouring town and villages, while the others, look after the "separating" of the milk.-'&tid the.feeding of calves, pigs, and fowl. The cow sheds are cleaned out, and any odd work such as grooming the horses, etc., is done; then 'they are off to tho Reids to do the work in season—ploughing, sowing, harrowing, weeding—everything is done by the students. Churning and buttermaking they take in turns; cheesemaking, under tho direction of an experienced instructress, is .now quite a speciality. The simpler cheoses are made', also one peculiar to the district known as' the Cottosmore Hunt cheese.

Lady Londonderry, .founder and president of the Women's Legion, has her huntingj/box, Springfield, in the vicinity of thejhpstel, and a few.of the students are detailed to look after the numerous' Mack pigs there, and a wonderful herd of l£erry cows, the latter under the supervision of a first-class dairymaid. With such fields for'working experienco tlipre is no reason why the legion students'should'not becomo competent dairy farmers.

Tho horticultural section .is even: more interesting than the dairy'work, for it holds more possibilities for the must earn her living-. The woman gardener commands a good salary,, and her valuejincreas.es as she gains experience. For the. woman with the artistic bent and genius for designing or "laying out," tho gardening of the future ought to hold alluring prospects.,. The three months' training offered seems somewhat short for those qualifying for a responsible post, but the course caji be extended, or a post found for the pupil, in which she will gain further training by experience. The delightful Old World garden, orchard, and kitchen gardenswhere tho horticultural students work is under a head gardener and an instructress. Hot houses cover large spaces, and growing under glass is taughtmi all its branches. The students here arc few, but ,they are full of interest in their work (which is just as heavy as fanning, though it does not sound so); they are bestowing on it all the earnestness of the best type of girl the war has brought to the fore; the gifl who means to make cf her work not » hobby but a career. In connection wtih these sections, a small herb industry has had much success. Sudi herbs as belladonna are grown in quantities, while the commoner species are bought or collected. There are special drying sheds, • and many London chemists have thus been supplied with herbs hitherto imported from enemy countries. growing and treatment of herbs require special knowledge, but is extremely lucrative, and for. women wishing to specialise in this. Rutlandshire, where atmospheric conditions are particularly kincl to herb plants, is ideal for training.. •