CANTERBURY SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3874, 17 December 1883, Page 4

CANTERBURY SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE.

Tho Agricultural Editor of the Christchurch Press has recently visited this institution, and reports that ho found the students engaged as follows:—" Some ot them were shearing sheep, others were ploughing and harrowing, preparing tor turnip sowing ; others were repairing gates, whilst some were engaged in the dairy, manufacturing cheese. There is a carpenter's shop and a smithy on the premises, where nearly all the wood and iron work is manufactured, and that by the students themselves. So much for the out-of-door work of students. The work carried on in the laboratory and lecture rooms is of the most complete character. The analysis of soils and all other compounds is being conducted as required. Land surveying, and tho theory and practice of farming also receive a larsfo share of attention. As regards the cronping aud general management of the farm, wo have no hesitation m asserting that it will bear favorable comparison with any farm of its area in the colony. The following figures, we feel assured, will go far to establish the correctness of this statement. The total area of the farm is GGO acres, and at the present time is carrying the following stock, viz. : 1300 sheep and GOO lambs, 85° head of cattle, 15 horses, and 70 pigs. There aro 2-10 acres under crop, 90 acres arc devoted to roots, and 300 arc under grass ; tho remaining 30 acres being taken up with plantation, buildings, Seo. The corn and seeds are looking healthy. The sheep, cattle, and horses are also in good condition. Tho above statement must be considered eminently satisfactory, especially when it is remembered that all the stock has been fed from tho products of the farm. The quantity of artificial manures purchased during the past season has been about eight tons. The farm, we apprehend, was originated more with a view to tho education of young men than with the object of altering the ideas of fanners of mature age at present engaged in farming. This latter would indeed bo a hopeless task. As regards the work done by the young men on the farm, we can only say that our Agricultural Editor has also seen them engaged in the fields, and so far from showing any reluctance to perform the tasks assigned them, thoy worked with great energy, and it must he remembered that many".tudonts are young men quite unaccustomed to hard manual labor.