MODEL FARMING.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2576, 15 January 1889, Page 3

MODEL FARMING.

TO THE EDITOR. Sin,—Some littli) time ago I wrote an article on " Model .Farming," which you wen? good enough to publish. I shall now continue the subject, as I think it a mutter of vital importance to the welfare of this colony. In my last article I said I would refer to the model farm I attended. Of course the. same system followed in this country would not do, as climate, soil, and wages are different; but that need not alter the principle. The main object is to tench a system of agriculture, applicable to the country we live in. Now, at the model farm at Dublin there were seventy-two pupils, none under seventeen years (if age. In order to quality for admission, an examination in general knowledge had to be parsed, and also a certain knowledge of agricultural cheini-try, thu examiner being the national school iiis|iei:ter. Tlie name was then placed on the books, and the candidate had to await a vacancy. The farm consisted of 3l>o iicre-i, and liiu system followed was, three, four and five course rotations, th™ results being published in the Agricultural Gazette. Also any now inventions in agricultural in ■ichiii"i-y were always tried there, that ueing the recognised farm for testing, in a practical manner, implements and manures, the results baintr properly recorded and made public for the benefit of the farmers. When any new fertilizer was brought out, it was sent there to be tested in a practical way, the results being published in the. Gazette, so that fanners could tell what manure was most applicable to the crop they intended slowing. All the work was done by tho students, no labour baing employed except a practical plotisslnnan. Tho different breeds of cattle were kept, always house fod, the breed tested and weigiied. We had Shorthorns, Ayrshire*, Dd>vons, Alderney and Kerry, all pedigree cattle, many of them prize takers. The Ayrshire was the best all-round cow. There were forty cows altogether of tho different breeds. In addition to a practical knowledge, lretures were delivered by professors on '"Chemistry," '"Geology," "Animal Physiology," "The Diseases of Farm Animals," and other subjects. A written examination took place after each course of lectures, money prizes being awarded to the three best answers. No fees were charged, the Stato paid everything, which, I think, was wrong; a small fee ought to be charged. Now, with regard to model farms in this country, in no case would I advocate the scheme unless the present Education vote was materially reduced. As experimental farms are not expected to pay all expenses, therefore, to a certain extent, they should bs aided by the State. I think there ought to be some sort of finishing schools, where farmora' sons could go, without having; to pro to college to learn classics; for all those classical scholars, both male and female, have to be paid by somebody, as they won't work, and who is to pay them '! There were several professional men's sons at the Model Farm I attended, as the professions were over-done, so they turned their attention to farming. Now, the first thing to be done is to limit free education to the fourth standard, as we cannot allord to pay for more ; neither is more desirable for the welfare of the community. We should then have means, without additional taxation, to assist in the above undertaking. At any rate it is high time something ought be done in thr. matter, if we may judge from the amount of spurious manures sold in the market. If such a school were established, with a laboratory connected with it, manures and soils could lie analysed at little expense, at the sains time giving instruction to the pupils. For, if there is one thing more than another that farmers require to know, it is the proper snrt of manure required fwr the different soils, as in my opinion we often apply the wrong sort owing to not knowing what the soil is deficient in, which can only be known by analysis. In conclusion, Mr Editor, I hope such an important subject will not be let drop, but that some more able pen than mine will advocate the carrying out of a system of instruction that is essential to the welfare of an agricultural country like this.—l am, &c. H, Roche. Ngaroto, January 10th, 1889.