FARM EDUCATION

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 41, 12 November 1926, Page 8

FARM EDUCATION

“TWO INSTITUTIONS • NECESSARY” Dominion Special. Masterton.. November 11. Writing to the.“ Age” oil the subject of agricultural education,- Mr. William Perry (“Penrose”), who was a member ot the Royal Commission which inspected various sites, offered ( for -the erection of the Agricultural College,, says it appears I 'to him that -there is -a great deal of misconception. .on this: subjfect. ■ . ■“There is far too' much/stress being put on the question of one centra! college,” Mr. Perry Igoes on to observe.' “The position is that . Lincoln College is an established..fact, lias turned out several men with degrees, and will be in a position still to do so, and the Government have <■• agreed to ? assist them .with Tunds to bring, them 'more up to date. The North Island, institution has vet to be built, and if will take a lot of money to equip it with buildings equal to those at Lincoln. - “Having given a great deal of thought to the college question, I have come to the conclusion that the two instituions ..are necessary., because of the' great difference between tbe climates and soils of the two islands. If these institutions had to deal with degree men only, then two colleges would be superfluous, but the probability is that there will be twenty diploma men available for every degree student, and there is no doubt that to get the best results from their studies their training should be on the same lines as their future farming will be. The South Island is renowned for its grain and root growing and. general agricultural advantages. On the other hand tbe winter is longer, and it is imperative to grow roots to help the winter through. Tn the North Island quite a different style of farming is in vogue. The grass grows the whole vear round, and With tbe practice of ton-dressing with manure very little; agricultural work is necessary. “Dairy research and pasture improvement are the big questions in the north and grain' and' general agriculture in the south. Why not let each institution go on and carry out its work to the best of its ability? The two islands will never agree over the question, so wliv cause trouble by rais-. ing the one college cry?”