TRAINING FOR SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 111, 4 February 1920, Page 8

TRAINING FOR SOLDIERS

WORK AT PENROSE FARM. By Tclograph—Special Correspondent. Masterton, Fobruary 3. The Fcnroso training farm for soldiers was visited to-day by representatives of tho local Repatriation Committee. The farm, comprising 700 acres, is situated at .East Taratahi, seven' miles from Masterton, and is approached by a good road. The visitors were particularly impressed by the residential accommodation provided for tho twenty-one men at present undergoing; a four months' course of 'instruction. Tho buildings have been brought from Fentlierston camp and have been re-erected on a high pieco of ground near tho farm entrance,. Each man ocenpis a separato eubiclo and has the use of a fine largo dining-room and a sitting-room measuring 32 loet square. A billiard table, piano, gramnphone, atd a number of upholstered chairs are included in tho luxuries provided, liaths ami showers and hand basins are connected up with a hot water service. Electric light generated on tho 1 farm is installed tiirouiinout the huildm'is. Kurther accommodation is now in the course of erection and will be available in about (i month's time. Under tho supervision of Captain Tilley, a general syllabus of instruction is gone through by the men, working in parties of three or four. They spend a week each in gaining practical knowledge under special instructors of tho following branches of farming: Dairying, pigs, ploughing, sheep, fenc ing, gardening, poultry, draining, and general work. Though the farm has been in existence for only four or five months, it has already reached an advanced stage of development. Lucerne and rapo are coming ou well and the vegetable garden'is bv no means behind in its crop. A prominent feature of the farm are the dairy and cow-bails. Both aro under one'roof and, liko tho co'wyards, have concreted floors. Twenty-five cows are put through at each milking, and the svstem employed is sanitary from beginning to end. From tho machine the milk is passed into a releaser, thence into a special tank, from which it is eventually drawn for separation. From first to last none of the milk is handled. Water flows continually along special channels in the floor end free use is made of it. Each week special lectures are given by Government experts on one of tho following subjects: Veterinary work, wool classing, milk testing, and agriculture.