SCIENCE OF FARMING.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 123, 25 May 1923, Page 2 (Supplement)

SCIENCE OF FARMING.

RUAKURA'S SUCCESS. j NEED FOR FARM SCHOOL. ROOM FOR DEVELOPMENT. The timely movement for the early .establishment of a farm school at Ruajkura has solid support in the Waikato. It is the kind of support that should have great weight with" the Government. It is a support founded upon intimate knowledge of tl>e State I'-.perinit .ltal I Farm at. liuakura. and its singular | facilities for excellent service as a seliool i for the production, so lo speak, of practical farmers and competent instructors. : It ought to he noted at once, however, that representative opinion in the tlis- j t rii-t is very lukewarm about the production of instructors. There is a feeling ithat every effort should b" concentrated more upon the establishment of a farm school at liuakura for the sound training of youths aud deficient farmers, po that they may become proficient farmers assured of success in land settlement. i Tii. shrewd folk in the country draw attention lo the pre.-s of secondary

pupils nnd college students towards the white-collared professions, and contrast that increasing procession each year against the haphazard recruitment of farmers. Hence the quick rural suspicion of the suggestion that there should be a farm school for the training of instructors, teachers and secondary school farmers. Tho country point of view is worth earnest consideration, even though it may bo a little overstrained. Those who have followed the movement for the establishment of a farm school at Ruakura understand quite clearly that the j first aim of the originators is to secure I more practical farmers for an essential ! increase in the productivity of the Dominion's primary industries, rather than increase in the professions. The trend of the movement is back to the land as a slogan for the sturdy youth of the Dominion. That, and the equally important aim at making good instructors i better instructors. It is beyond question that the Govern- ' ments experimental farm at Ruakura. , a few miles east of Hamilton, is not ; increasing its functions to tho full powers of its. capacity as a model instructional farm. As a result of the j general State retrenchment the present '■ service of the farm to the primary industries is .limited in scope. This is admitted, and may be emphasised with- ; out in any way depreciating its excel- ; lent service in the matter of supplying pedigree stock to practical farmers from its well-conditioned Hocks and herds. ln every way the movement for tho establishment of a farm school for the training of at least sixty students of land productivity is timely. There are no learners in sight. Tiie school is there on the farm: it only requires State designation and support. IJivon authority a group of cadets could begin instruction forthwith. There is ample accommodation available; the farm lias the essential equipment: its organisation is efficient, and in competent hands: jand there is a very generous tieid open 'for sound training in practical farming. . Tho Ruakura Farm comprises 947 | acres, and in its present condition ; affords a delightful demonstration as to ,tho productivity of the so-called poor lands of the Waikato under skilful development. There is no necessity io I recapitulate all the details of the equipjment. and the range of its experiments. These are but the ingredients: the secret of the philtre lies in the wonderful achievement of full development in a score of years. It is a model farm with a high standard class of slock that is in keen demand by all kinds of farmers. beekeepers and horticulturists, who know quality and appreciate the value of working only with the best. The most cogent argument in favour of the Government immediately gazetting Kuakura Experimental Farm as a farm school is the fact that its position is ideal for such a purpose. It is perfeetlv situated geographically, and it leaves nothing to be desired in the

j matter of equipment and proved facilities for the training of farm recruits. The farm is in the very centre of an 1 immense territory of undeveloped land, most of which is capable of profitable development. The eastern boundary of Ruakura is a 25,000-aerc block that is j practically waste land in its present condition. Its productivity is inhnitcsi- ! ma!. Every acre of it could be made equal to tlie adjoining block on Kuakura farm, where in a 25-acrc paddock a herd of _."> heavy milkers cannot keep down the rich pasture. In addition to the _..000-acre block of land along the Morrinsvillc railway line, there arc similar blocks further east, and also toward the south, along the i Rotorua line. There are no less than | 100,1100 acres of waste land that could i within a few years be transformed into the condition of lite productive sctlle- : ments in Central Waikato. A farm school at Ruakura would open : the way to extensive development. There !is every class of land available for serviceable experiment and development ; I fern country at Te Kuiti and thereabouts, the pumice land about Taupo. ttic bush clay towards Raglan, and the swamp soils'and rough land of tbe Central Waikato. A pretit extension of Ruaknra's achievement is wanted by the whole Dominion.