THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1907. SCIENTIFIC AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

King Country Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 18, 22 February 1907, Page 2

THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1907. SCIENTIFIC AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

In connection with the scheme outlined by the Minister for Lands, during his recent visit to Waikato, arrangements are now being made for the purpose of providing instruction to young farmers on the Ruakura and Momohaki Experimental Stations. The cadets will be given a two years' course in up-to-date farm practice, with a grounding in the simple principles underlying plant, and animal life. It is intended to transfer the youths from one station to another during the currency of the course, so that they may obtain an insight into the variation of method required in different districts of the colony. That the undertaking will receive the hearty support af all classes is well assured, and it is to be sincerely hoped the establishing" of such schools is merely the small beginning of a very general and widespread scheme, which will embrace numerous smaller, and if necessary, more elementary institutions, from which youths could graduate to the secondary colleges. Probably no branch of our industrial life has been so neglected in the matter of scientific education as- farming, while in reality no pursuit is more open to progress and improvement by means of scientific application. In the past the industry has grown and thriven by reason of exceptionally favourable conditions, and the farmer in recent years has experienced great prosperity in consequence of the spread of the dairy industry, and the unusually high price of stock and wool, due to extraneous influences. What has been done in the way of progress has been mainly the work of the exceptional " man on the land," desirous of keeping pace with the progress of his compeers in other countries. The embryo farmer has had to work out his own redemption. He is now being recognised as an important factor in building up the future of the industry, and incidentally the nation, and the greater the pains taken to make him progressive, the greater the gain to the nation. On all hands we have to compete with progressive people, and in order to progress must win, and keep against all comers, a high place in the world markets. To be able to do this our farmers must be fitted to cope with all opposition. The farming of the future is bound to become more scientific. Smaller areas and more intense cultivation are sure to follow the increase of population, and only by the highest knowledge, and the most economical application of that knowledge, will it be possible to become successful. New and advanced ideas are eagerly accepted in all industries, and only by educating our young men is it possible to keep pace with competition. This is generally recognised in all commercial and industrial life. Thus we have technical schools, and colleges established in all possible centres, and the rapidly extending knowledge that education in all directions should be as free as the air we breathe. In a new and rich country like the Rohe Potae, it is essential that its chief industry should be instituted, land conducted on the most up-to-date and profitable lines. While there is yet time every effort should be made to induce the Government to set aside areas in the different centres in order to provide for the education of our young farmers. This matter should be urged strongly, and by united action could no doubt be accomplished.

RAGWORT. Attention is being drawn on all sides to the rapidly increasing prevalence of the dreaded ragwort in the King Country. A few years ago it was practically unknown, and now it is a familiar sight in all 1 parts of the district. Warnings are uttered by all as to the dangers ensuing from the presence of the pest, and advice is distributed wholesale as to the best means of eradicating it. Both warnings and advice might be acceptable to any other locality in the colony, but within the Rohe Potae, the settlers realise, only too well, how helpless they are to cope with the evil. With settlement confined to isolated patches, surrounded by Native-owned waste lands, and in some cases by unoccupied Government land, of what use is -it for the settler to attempt to keep his land clear? The surrounding country is a breeding ground for the weed, and no matter how the settler may strive he is gradually becoming encircled by an ever-increasing crop of it. It is to be hoped the strongest possible representations will be made to the Department of Agriculture, and means to cope with the evil should not be found wanting. It is impossible to exaggerate the importance of this matter, not only to the settler, but to the country in general. Thousands of acres, lying idle, are already more or less affected, and long before the recommendations of the Native Lands Commission can be given effect to, thousands of acres more will have come under the ban. Unless strong and comprehensive action is taken immediately, much of the finest country in the province will be practically ruined. The injustice to settlers already on their sections, and doing their best to fight the pest, is too obvious to require emphasis, and the Government should certainly

find means to keep the Crown and Native-owned lands dean. Mr Jennings referred to the matter on his recent visit to Te Kuiti, and stronglyurged settlers to do all they could to get rid of the pest. Let the settlers now urge Mr Jennings to make strong representations to the Government to clear the unoccupied lands, for the the time has past, for isolated action to be of any use.