HAWKESBURY AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 296, 11 December 1912, Page 8

HAWKESBURY AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.

A MODEL FOR NEW ZEALAND.

Hawkesbury Agricultural College, of New South Wales, has only one rival in the Empire, that of Gnelph, in Canada, and as a training institution for the practical farmer it is unexcelled in the w0r1d.,., Its fame has gone abroad, and now—%part from its value as a centre of agricultural advancement—it is performing a most useful function in strengthening the bonds of the Empire. Sons of New Zealand farmers I—ye been well prepared for their life's vocation at Hawkesbury, while nearly twenty students from South Africa —sons of Boer farmers and now happily British subjects—have been trained there. It is a thoroughly cosmopolitan institution, for Russian, French, Japanese and Java students have attended Hawkesbury. The Scottish Agricultural Commissioners paid unstinted praise to the big Australian College, and when the Transvaal Government decided to establish an agricultural college at Potchefstroom, they took Hawkesbury College as their model, and again, when it was decided to send students abroad to specialise in agriculture, they sent them 6,000 miles to Hawkesbury to secure it.

Many of those who realise the great need of a State Agricultural College, on a scale in keeping with the importance of our agricultural industries, believe that the Hawkesbury College should he uiken as our model; and, judging by its unique success, and the thoroughly practical training it affords, there is little doubt Xew Zealand's first State Agricultural College, be it at the Ruakura Farm of Instruction, or where it may, will be framed on the lines of that of New South Wales. It is well, therefore, that we should learn all we can of Hawkesbury and its people. The writer, with this end in view, took advantage of the presence in Xew Zealand of two exstudents of Hawkesbury. to secure an insight into the working of the institution. These are two young Boer farmers, Messrs. E. X. Roberts and G. J. Sdi-urman, who hold the College diploma, the latter in addition being the 1911 Dux of the College, and the proud possessor of the Principal's gold medal, awarded to the best student of the year. They were able to take advantage of the special opportunities there afforded for agricultural training by reason of having won two travelling agricultural scholarships given by the Transvaal Government, these being tenable for four years and of an annual value of £200. These scholarships were two of eight of equal value, given at the time, a pair of students being told off to investigate a certain phase of primary production. Two went to Britain to study veterinary science, two to America for cotton and tobacco, two to the Mother Country for chemistry, etc., and Messrs. Roberts and Schuunnan to Australasia for sheep work.

The story of Hawkesbury, as told by these young Boers—of keen intelligence, rare enthusiasm for agriculture, and delightful com tanions—is full of interest.

As generally known the College has a peculiar location, situated as it is on land of an exceedingly intractable nature, the greater part of it being nothing but pure sand, the balance being of pipe clay character, and about as poor a medium for agricultural purposes as can be imagined. The primary object of selecting such a soil was to prove the possibilities of this type of country under scientific treatment. The area of the property is about 3,300 acres. Its present condition speaks volumes for the management, being a striking demonstration of the result of intelligent treatment of even the most unpromising soils, combined with the judicious use of artificial fertilisers. While not presenting the imposing appearance of some American institutions, the College buildings are thoroughly well equipped, and are excellently staffed. Accommodation is provided for 212 students, and an average of about ISO students are in continuous residence. In the human equipment of the College the New South Wale 3 Department of Agriculture has been distinctly fortunate. Tlie Principal, Mr. Potts, is an ideal man for the position (an opinion in which many others agree with Messrs. Roberts and Schuurman). He is not only a good disciplinarian, but be is a first-class organiser, and a man of exceptional attainments in the world of agricultural science. Mr. Potts has the assistance of a number of well-quali-fied experts and teachers, thirteen in all, in addition to two experts of the Department, who visit the College periodically to lecture and demonstrate. Then there are several men in charge of special departments, who give practical instruction to the students, such as the farm foreman, the blacksmith, the saddler, the carpenter, etc. There arc over thirty permanent instructors and assistants on the farm.

Primarily, the object of Hawkesbury is to provide the son of the fanner with a thoroughly sound training in agriculture. As some knowledge of scientiP. principles is imperative, to this end theoretical as well as a practical training is provided. However, the student who so desires need only take the practical course, but, a_ a general rule, the full course is favoured. The studies are about equally divided between the two phases—the theoretical and the practical—of the College training. A diploma course is provided, so that the student, at the end of three years' training, may obtain a diploma, testifying to his having satisfactorily benefited, by examination, from his College training.

While an all-round training in practically every phase of farming is provided at Hawkesbury. the student who desires to specialise, or has not the time to take the complete course, may devote his time to any particular subject he may choose. For instance, he may only take up dairying, stock-breeding, fruit-growing, etc., In these cases the student is required to attend the lectures bearing on the sub" ject he is pursuing; thus, the student taking dairying requires to attend lectures on veterinary science, ba-cteriology, and chemistry.

The student at Hawkesbury does not wear kid gloves. It is a case of going prepared to start a training in agriculture from the very bottom of the ladder, for all the work on the farm is done by the students. One day he may have to clean out the pig pens, and when he has cleaned himself attend a lecture on agricultural chemistry. All go through the same routine. A student who has completed a full course will have a fairly sound knowledge of the principles underlying agriculture, and how to apply them, as well as being able to shoe a horse, milk a cow. cure a side of bacon, mend harness, build a gate, repair a cart, and can fruit. Of course, this is not to say that all are experts in these particular subjects, for. while all have to learn these useful details, some actually become more expert in a particular subject than others, and thereby benefit to a greater dtsgree- by -the- special.

training. In every way, endeavour is made to make the finished student a thoroughly useful man for the land.

There are three classes of students' at Ha— oeabury. Tlie lecture stud errts, who take the three yeai-3' for the full diploma, the special course students, and the ordinaries (much the. smallest class), who only take practical work. The fees are very moderate, being about £25 a year, which includes medical attendance, sports' fees, etc

During the winter vacation an opportunity is afforded fanners of securing the advantages of the college training by roeans of what is termed a "winter school." This lasts for about a month. For this the farmer is charged £2, which includes board and residence. Reduced railway fares are granted these fanner students. During the summer vacation there is a similar course for country school teachers.

The value of the farmers' course is very great, and is deservedly popular. There are always as many fanners desirous of taking the course as the college can accommodate, and this is probably never more than 100, as a good many of the students have to remain to carry on the ordinary work of the farm. Many farmers take the short course to obtain information in regard to some particular subject. Say. a dairy farmer desires to instal a milking-machine plant. In his month's course at the college he can specialise in this particular branch of dairying, and when he returns home lie knows thoroughly well how to manage the mechanical milker, how to keep it in the necessary sanitary state, and knows all about his oil engine. So with milk testing, orchard work, etc. Blacksmithing, saddlery, and carpentering, work specially appeal to those farmer students.

Social life at Hawkesbury is not neglected, for the considerable community of the institution must be provided witli healthy recreation and amusement, though these are never allowed to interfere with the main objective. Football, hockey, tennis, swimming, and cricket are all followed with enthusiasm, while there is a thoroughly well equipped gymnasium. In addition to having a fine limelight outfit (for educative as well as amusement purposes), there is also a complete cinematograph plant. On Saturday evenings this provides a capital form of entertainment. There is a strong concert committee, which practically controls the social life of the college, conducting entertainments and other amusements. A Christian L'nion, to which 75 per cent, of the students are attached, attends to the spiritual life of Hawkesbury. This organisation secures the voluntary services of noted preachers and lecturers at weekly intervals.

The young Boers, who furnished this brief sketch of the leading agricultural college this side of the jrlobe, speak in high terms of praise of their experience at it. They declare it is doing all that it claims tc do, namely, provide a scientific and practical training for the embryo farmer, so that these may be well-armed to turn to most profitable account the land they may be called upon to farm, to their own and their country's advantage.