THE “BETTER-FARMING” TRAIN.

Shannon News, 14 November 1924, Page 4

THE “BETTER-FARMING” TRAIN.

A NOVEL AND SUCCESSFUL "VENTURE. v

Both, South Africa and ’ Australia have adopted .. .a novel system or agricultural education, namely , the “Better-Farming” Train. This train has been designed and fitted out by the Department of Agriculture, ana is in the first place intended to demonstrate ihe valuable work done by this Department. The better-fanning train which steamed out , of the Spencer Street station, Melbourne, a few days ago, was such an unqualified success that even the greatest sceptic must be convinced of its outstanding educational value. ' It is being looked upon as the most effective means of conveying to producers the result and lessons taught by the work which the Department oi Agriculture has been doing on its experimental farms and testing plots in various part s of the State. >ln order to demonstrate the advantages of the improved methods of crop production and animal husbandry, the train carries a large number of exhibits relating to soiling, manuring, top-dressing, etc. as well as a line display of purebred stock from the various Government farms. In, addition to this number of experts of the various departments accompany the train giving lectures and demonstrations at the numerous wayside stations. At each of the places visited during the ten days’ tour, says *an Australian exchange, remarkable enthusiasm was displayed by the farmers, many of whom travelled long • distances over vile roads to learn all that the train and its company had to teach. All of those men displayed a keen interest in •‘the purebred stock aboard the train, in 'ts instructive dairying and top-dressing exhibits, and in the remarks of the experts, who gave . demonstrations. At Mirboo North several thousands visited the train and listened to the lectures on agriculture and stock-breeding problems.

Over 1000 people had assembled at Maffra when the train arrived at that progressive centre, and eagei? gatherings welcomed it at ail other towns visited.

Now that the great practical value of the train for educational purposes has been so emphatically demonstrated, concludes this paper, every effort should be made to keep it running, to improve the scope of its usefulness, and to maintain the deep interest now taken in it, until all parts of the State have been visited.

The next trip of the train will probably bt made to South Gippsland districts eai'ly in November. Afteiwards portions of the Western district will be Visited.

It may be added,, that the experiment made by the South African Government in the same, direction about nine months or so ago proved equally successful rind is being looked upon as a permanent periodical feature. Many complaints have been made of late yeai-s, that the experimental work carried on at the several New Zealand farms, lost much of its value through lacking systematic dissemination of the results and experience obtained. This no doubt lias been felt by Agricultural Departments of other countries, the ‘‘better-farming” train evidently being the result.

The periodical demonstrations given by some oi our experimental farms, although greatly appreciated by the few enthusiasts who find it convenient or worth their while to attend, can by no means be considered an adequate return for the large sums of money spent. The knowledge and experience gained at these various farms can be doubled nor over-valued and every endeavour % should be made to disseminate v that knowledge to the fullest extent. Without adequate means of distributing this knowledge the object of these ■farms is '“only partly achieved and much of the money in spent in vain. The department should therefore, look around for the necessary ways and means of providing the missing link in the present chain of rural agricultural education and if a , farming-train can be adapt- , ed to local conditions, it should not allow its novelty to stand in the way of its adoption. Factory Advances on Butter And * Oieese. Latest advices received from agents and merchants indicate that advances by agents to factories have been reduced to 1/4 on butter and 7d oh cheese. These advances are equal to approximately 170/- and 82/6 respectively in London, and may at first glance appear rather conservative. There are a number of indications, however, that present prices —especially for butter —may not continue much longer, the most ominous being the sudden and serious drop in Danish butter which is already being followed by other brands. The cable received a few days ago from the chairman of the Control Board (Mr Grounds) advising factories to be careful with advances may be interpreted in the same direction.

It is generally feared that the drop in butter prices will take place earlier this year than usual. Thi s is to be greatly regretted as our early shipments have only been small. The only New Zealand butter reaching Great Britain before Xmas will be August and September make, with perhaps a small portion of October butter which was shipped to the West of England ports.

Under these circumstances' Dairy Companies should not be misled by to-day’s prices, but should, in their, own, interest pursue a policy of card and caution.