SCHOOL FOR FARMERS.

Shannon News, 17 February 1922, Page 3

SCHOOL FOR FARMERS.

ARRANGEMENTS AT CENTRAL

DEVELOPMENT FARM

CLASSES TO BE HELD IN COMING

AUTUMN. ' Inquiries by a “News”, representative yesterday revealed the inuricsting fact that.arrangements are well m hand for the agricultural classes tor farmers that are to be held at the Central Development Farm at Weraroa this autumn. The'-point, has now been reached that, the names oi at least forty farmers willing to attend the school are required in order that the catering can be arranged" for. The only expense to the students will be the small cost of their daily meals during the four days the classes will be. in session.

This district is doubly fortunate in its proximity to the Farm, and in the institution having a Manager so much in sympathy with agricultural education as M rW. J. McCulloch. Prior io his advent to the Farm it Was largely an undiscovered country to the majority of the farmers on this Coast. His policy of making the institution easily accessible to the men on the land lias made it a very, -mportant factor m agricultural progress, and that it is appreciated is shown by the large attendances and keen interest taken m the many Field Days held during the autumn and winter. ,lt is ie.lt, however,' that useful as these occasional visits are, the time has come to take a step forward. The most interesting questions are probably those that come to mind after the visitors have left the Farm, but which, the opportunity being past, remaiir unanswered or: are forgotten before next visit. During a stay of several days at the Farm there would be ample time lor iully exploring avenues of inquiry that are merely opened up on a Field Day. I lie advantages of being able to thresh out, difficulties with the assistance oi experts in theory and practice will appeal to agriculturists who are trying to apply scientific knowledge io their methods of production and the spouse to the opportunity shortly to be presented is therefore expected to be a very full one. These agricultural classes had their origin some years ago at the Buakura State Farm. The Auckland Education Board arranged for numbers ol ns teachers to attend a course of instruction by its own and the State experts in agricultural subjects. As the interest and value of the gatnerings became known and appreciated neighbouring farmers eagerly sought die opportunity of being present. The fame of the classes spread and men even came from the South Island to take advantage of the instruction. Something on these lines will be attempted at Weraroa though it will bo purely an Agricultural Departmental affair.

The Central Development Farm is better equipped than most State Farms lor instructional purposes. It has extensive accommodation, put up loi the soldier students, arid adequate supplies ol bedding and furnishings. All that the members ol these classes-will need to. provide is the meals, and with a minimum of forty members, the commissariat should not he an expensive item, and could be attended to eco'nomicaliy by a caterer. in conversation with Mr McCulloch, the press representative was informed that a definite schedule would •be drawn up of the course ol instruction which would occupy lour days. The Farm and the is tat e -experts would be at the disposal of tire students, and he also hoped to secure the presence of outside authorities, such, for instance, as the Jersey Breeders’'Association’s official demonstrator, anti a Friesian authority. The season chosen was the autumn, when there would be a relaxation ol farm work, and farmers would best be able to spare tire time.

The facilities that are to be afforded will, we leei sure, commend themselves io a district such as this, embracing as -it does so many young and progressive farmers. There is, however, a larger view that should, not be obscured by the .immediate and material benefits. It is this: That the best way to strengthen the demand for a permanent agricultural college is to demonstrate the need that exists lor such an institution. The support accorded these classes will be an index to that need, and 'the classes themselves should be but a stepping stone to- the establishment at Weraroa ol the college lor which the Government has already received a very handsome bequest.