TRAINING FARMERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 292, 10 December 1925, Page 18

TRAINING FARMERS.

LINCOLN COLLEGE VISITED

A NORTH ISLAND CRITICISM,

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WANGAXTJI, this day. YChen the matter of the establishment of an agricultural college in Rangitikei ■was mentioned at the Chamber of Commerce annual meeting on Monday evening. Mr. John Morrison, who is a practical farmer, stated that they had bettor drop the project altogether. A "Wanganui Herald" reporter later sought further information from Mr. Morrison on the -matter. Ho stated that by special invitation while in Christchurch recently he took the opportunity to visit Lincoln College. He had heard a great deal about the institution, and as he had at various times visited the Government State farm? Iris visit was made by way of comparison. "J never received such" a .Oiork in my life." added. Mr. Morrison. "Whatever the Government had undertaken in regard to Experimental farms in the Xorth Island, "hey bad done well, and these farms -rerV outstanding and attractive compared with the College farm."

Mr. Morrison was most hospitably >ceived at the College, and lie was only iorry he could not report more favour- ! ably" on the institution. The first placp be visited was the rooms for the cadets. He understood there was accommodation for about 00. He was not at all impressed with these. Personally, he did not believe in anything in the way of luxury for lads starting out on a farming career, but these rooms were nothing better than would be found on an ordinary farm in the North Island, and were not to lie compared with, the rooms for cadets on the State farms. The next portion he was shown, was the shrubbery, which certainly was very nice, many of the plants liaving been growing there for many years. Then a visit was made to the Hocks, and Mr. Morrison was not at all impressed with the lambs; in fact, he said the institution would be fortunate if it got away 20 per cent of fats in the first draft. A great percentage of the ewes any farmer would raddle out as culls. A visit was then made to the wool shed, where shearing ■Was : " full swing. The first thing Mr. Jloi iiit noticed was the obsolete wool press. It may be. mentioned that Mr. Morrison and his brother are authorities on shearing, for in their younger days they were champions in New Zca land, and were never beaten. The cadets at Lincoln College, said Mr. Morrison, had not the slightest idea of how to hold a sheep, or how to take the wool off. He watched other students at the classing table; and here again a lack of knowledge was displayed. They had no idea of proper trimming and rolling, and one cadet was pulling lumps of the best ■wool out of the fleece. Pressing was also in progress, and at the time of the ■visit the press collapsed. Before leaving the shed Mr. Morrison showed some of the pupils how a fleece should be rolled and placed in the bale. An inspection "was then made of the buildings for lousing the stock, and these Mr. Morrison said were of a useful type. The next stage was to inspect the purebred pigs, and the visitor considered they were a poor lot of the Essex type. He saw one Berkshire. Far better pigs ■would be found on the average farm in the Xorth Island. Mr. Morrison was favourably impressed with the plots of different varieties of cocksfoot. They were grown to show which, would provide the best sole of grass. These had a distinct educational value.

Passing to the poultry pens, Mr. Morrison said the poultry were a poor lot. The students took pride in the flower gardens, and they certainly looked well. The implements on the farm that Mr. Morrison saw were not up to date; the farm horses were also of a poor class, and in no condition. They had no tractors, as far as the visitor could gather, although the country was admirably suited for the tractor. The fences on the estate were also no credit to the college. The visitor was also shown plots of wheat, and here again he expressed disappointment. They were badly cultivated, and the varieties of wheat did not have a chance to mature properly.

Asked what he would suggest in the way I of improvements, Mr. Morrison replied that the college should be run more on the lines of the State farms, where pupils would gain more knowledge, and visitors would have something to see. The college would not then be a place from which visitors could return full of adverse criticism. He would also suggest keeping the be3t'type of sheep. At shearing time he would employ one of the first-class Maori shearers to act as instructor. Plenty of these could be procured in the North Island*