A Tour in New Zealand.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 958, 9 July 1881, Page 4

A Tour in New Zealand.

No. NV. —An Agricultural College. [From the Melbourne Leader], Among the educational establishments which form such a prominent feature of Christchurch and the whole of New Zealand, the Canterbury Agricultural College is not the least important. Where education receives so much attention, and where farming is such an important industry, one is not surprised to find considerable progress made in the work of giving instruction in the science and practice of agriculture. 1 have already spoken of £he high position which the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association occupies among the agricultural societies of A ustralasia ; I have now to record the opinion that the Canterbury Agricultural College, although as yet only in its infancy, already holds the first place in the Tanks of agricultural education in New Zealand and Australia. In the Australian Colonies there has been much talk about the importance of instructing the young in the best means of developing the agricultural and pastoral resources of the soil, but nothing practical has yet been done in the way of supplying the want. In New Zealand, however, which is amongst the youngest of the Colonies, a school has been established, which has already entered upon its work, and will, no doubt, have a successful career, exerting a beneficial influence both within und beyond the Colony. Endowment plays an important part in this undertaking. Before the abolition of the provinces the Provincial Government handed over certain lands to Canterbury College, for the purpose of supporting a school of agriculture. These lands have been sold, and the proceeds invested in such a way that already the income amounts to £6OOO per annum, while in a short time it will amount to £lO,OOO a year. A little over two years ago the Canterbury College, which is connected with the University of New Zealand, took steps to establish the agricultural school, purchasing and building upon a site near Lincolne, about 12 miles from the city of Christchurch. Mr. E. Ivey, M.R.A.C., F.C.R., F.I.C. formerly of the Victorian Agricultural department, was appointed director, and the school was established under his management. The college and outbuildings were soon completed, and last July the school was opened, beginning with nearly the full complement of students. When it is considered that two years and a half ago the farm was only a bare paddock, and it is less than a year since the college was opened, we cannot look for much in the way of results, but, judging from the way in n hich the institution is conducted, we are justified in expecting great things from it in the future.

The college building is an imposing looking two-story brick edifice, surrounded by shrubberies and recreation grounds, and if it were a Government institution critics would, perhaps, be justified in saying that too much money had been spent in ornamentation. In the main building there are provided a lecture theatre, library and museum, chemical laboratory, dining-hall, quarters for the director, separate bedrooms for students, lavatories and bath room. The rooms are large, the walls high, and the building throughout is fitted up in a style which gives one a favorable impression of the endowment system. At present 37 students are accommodated, but the institution is overcrowded, which shows that the school is more popular with the public than was expected. In order to provide for the increasing number of applications for admission, a large wing is being built, upon the same style as the main building, and by this means 60 additional students will be accommodated, bringing the capacity of the college up to about 100 students.

The farm buildings are not of an expensive character, for although quite good enough for the purpose, their post would not be objected to even if placed upon the frovernment estimate. For stables, sheds and barns strong timber is used, with corrugated iron for roofing, and there is nothing more elaborate than would be expected from a well-conducted farm where the farmer was endeavoring to realise a profit upon his expenditure. While there has been no unnecessary expense incurred, every convenience is provided for in the outbuildings. The implements are all housed in a shed ; the

stables are well suited for the purpose intended ; the cow yards and sheds are conveniently arranged and the piggeries are complete in arrangement for feeding and providing for proper bedding and drainage. The dairy, although requiring less provision for securing coolness than is necessary in a warm climate, is thoroughly well fitted up with convenience for butter and cheesemaking, and securing the indispensable necessity of cleanliness. Different kinds of churns are used, so that their relative merits may be tested, and steps are being taken to test the various methods of setting milk. There has not been sufficient time to arrive at decided conclusions upon this point, but. at present the system considered best is that known as the “ Cooley system,” which consists of setting the milk in deep cans kept covered with cold water. The cans which are round, about a foot in diameter and 3 feet deep, capable of holding about 3 gallons, are filled to within 5 or 6 inches of the top with milk, covered with a close-fitting lid, and set in a trough of cold water, the water completely covering the cans Water is supplied to the dairy and to all parts of the buildings by pipes leading from a reservoir which is filled from a well, a windmill being used to work the pump. A complete cheesemaking plant, of the kind used in the factory system, is also provided, and cleanliness is secured by the cementing of the floors and arranging for frequently flushing with water.

The farm contains 500 acres of land varying from the richest to some of the poorer kinds of loamy soil. It is subdivided into numerous paddocks and devoted to the growing of the different kinds of cereals, roots and pastures. A portion has been set apart for experimental purposes, but there has not yet been time to organise this part of the farm. Apart from the experimental grounds there are 150 acres devoted to cereals, 30 acres to root crops, and 250 acres to artificial grasses, the remainder being taken up by the homestead and recreation grounds. The stock consists of SOO Lincoln sheep, 80 horned cattle, and the horses required in working the farm. No attempt is made to enter upon stud breeding, but a good class of stock is kept. Wellbred Lincoln sheea, good draught horses and a herd of fairly well-bred cattle, with a pure bred shorthorn bull, a,re kept upon the farm, and it is not considered desirable to have high class valuable stock put into the hands of lads who are only learning the details of farm work.

To make farmers is the object of the college, and, therefore, the outdoor work is considered of great importance. Mr. Ivey considers that Circencester and other agricultural colleges have given too little attention to the practice of farming, and it is, therefore, his aim, while giving as far as possible as much science as these institutions, to supply what he considers to have been a want in them. Students are required to work upon the farm for four hours each day, and to take their turn at all kinds of work. From holding the plough or driving a reaping machine down to cleaning out the piggeries must be taken in turn by every student, and if anyone wishes to shirk the work he is at liberty to leave, but it is intended that those who go through their course shall be acquainted with the practical details of farming. “ We do not wish to make gentleman farmers, but working farmers —cockatoos,” is Mr. Ivey’s frequent reminder to the students, and this does not spring from the motives that actuated Mr. Squeers in the management of Dotheboys Hall. The students are paid for their work at the rate of a given sum per hour, and, therefore, they know that it is insisted upon, not for the benefit of the college, but for their own good. Although the practice of agriculture is considered of so much importance, the science is not neglected. The course of instruction includes agriculture, chemistry, biology, geology, and physical geography, mathematics, surveying, and book-keeping. Agriculture includes —Principles of construction and use of implements, origin and physical properties of soils, general cultivation of soils, effects and cost of cultivation by the various implements, effects of air and rain on fallowed sod, use of manures, draining, cultivation of and harvesting the various cereal and other crops, habits and peculiarities of the cereals, rotation of crops, cost of cultivation and value of root and fodder crops generally, laying down to grass, grasses in general, cultivation of crops occupying small areas,

as dye plants, fibre plants, &c., fences and fence plants, diseases of crops, the management of stock, farmhouses, sheep, cattle, pigs, wool, bacon curing and dairy management. Under the head of chemistry is included —Chemistry applied to agriculture, the constituents of the soil, their condition, the plant and its constituents, the food of plants, whence derived, in what condition it must exist for absorption and assimilation by the plant, fertile and infertile soils, chemistry of vegetable products, composition of cereal grain; of hay, roots, and other farm produce, composition of flesh, of fat, chemistry of the growth and fattening of animals, manufacture of starch, of sugar, of vinegar, &c., the chemistry of milk, butter and cheese, of food, of manures, &c. The course in biology includes — Physiological Botany: Food of plants, absorption, diffusion of fluids in plants, elaboration of the food, reproduction of plants, influence of external agents on plants, distribution of plants, diseases of plants. Entomology : Principal divisions of the animal kingdom, structure of insects, character of the orders and more important families of insects, life histories of injurious and beneficial insects, proposed remedies against the injuriuos effects of insects. The teaching staff has hitherto been too small; Mr. Ivey having had to take agriculture and chemistry —in fact only having had the assistance of one lecturer, but now a lecturer in chemistry has been appointed, and it is expected that the next half-year will commence with four lectures, including one upon veterinary science. At present there are only two farm laborers to work with the students in the field, but it is contemplated to place a practical manager over this department, so that the students may be under proper supervision and instruction while at field-work.. An entrance examination will also have to be arranged for, so that students will be sufficiently educated before entering to obtain full advantage from the educational course. The course is for two years, and certificates of competency will be given to students who pass through the institution successfully, but these details have not yet been arranged. Students have to pay £lO per annum, a very moderate sum ; but owing to the fact that they are paid for their labor the amount is actually considerably less. The scale of payment admits of a student earning £l5 the first year, and £25 in each of the succeeding years. Fines for infringing the rules are deducted from the payments, but a well-conducted student may earn the whole amount, so that his education may cost him only £25 in the first year, and £l5 for each succeeding year. There are also six scholarships, which entitle the holders to go through the course free of all cost. Two of these scholarships will become vacant every year, and will be open to public competition, the subjects for examination being comprised in the sixth standard of education, as set forth in the> regulations under the Education Act. Travelling expenses are allowed students to and from their homes in any. part of New Zealand twice a year. The rules provide amply for the moral supervision of the students as well as for securing attention to the various branches of their studies. There is no doubt that a young man passing through the course of training at the Canterbury Agricultural College will be well qualified to take the management of a farm or to enter into agricultural or pastoral pursuits for himself, while it must be confessed that none of the Australian Colonies offer the same facilities for obtaining. an agricultural education.