EXPERIMENTAL FARM

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVII, Issue 9052, 24 July 1917, Page 4

EXPERIMENTAL FARM

REFERENCE AT FARMERS' UNION.

SIR JAMES WILSON'S TRIBUTE

(Special to "Guardian." )

WELLINGTON, July 24. At the annual .conference of the Now Zealand Farmers'- Union, held here to-day, the president (Sir James Wilson) delivered a most" -interesting address, in the course of which ho said: —" There are two instances of advance' in agricultural 1'" educationwhich I cannot close without * mentioning—the work at the High School at Ashburton and the farm which has been started at Stratford. The Governors of 1 the Ashburton High School had a reserve. They waited to further agricultural education, and they referred the matter to the Board of Agriculture. That body was able to bring about a complete co-ordina-tion, of the work of the • two ■ departments —viz., education and agriculture. A science master has been appointed to the school, and he also has supervision of the operations and experiments going on on the reserve, which has been practically turned into a snail experimental or. demonstration farm. It has the advantage—which to my mind, is essential to the success of any farm of a similar nature—of local interest. The Governors of the High School are keenly interested in the success of the work. They have a local knowledge which is of great help. They act as a ferment to create interest and enthusiasm amongst the peoplo of the district, who will come to look upon the -work with pride instead of the indifference' usually displayed in connection with a Govern-. Mont farm." -