THE MODEL FARM.

Press, Volume XXXI, Issue 4290, 30 April 1879, Page 3

THE MODEL FARM.

[Bt a Bbcbst Visitob.] Tempted by the fineness of an autumn day, and desiring alto to see what progress was being made at the model farm in connection with the school of agriculture, I recently, in company with a friend, paid a visit to Lincoln, where the land intended to be used for the purpose is situated. The drive thither was most 'enjoyable; tbe plantations on each side of us wore their autumnal tints, and here and there a patch of sunlight tinted a row of trees with a beautiful golden color.

Crossing tbe somewhat pretentious atone structure which spans the little creek running I through the township of Lincoln we descried | the large building now in course of erection for the homestead at the model farm looming up near some gum trees, and a few minutes' drive over a not very good road brought us to the residence of Jlr Ivey, the director of t*»e farm, from whom, let mc say here, we received a most cordial and hearty welcome. The land chosen for the operations of theschool is perhaps some of the best in Canterbury, p«t being originally swamp. It is now divided into paddocks, which of course when the farm is in full swing will be done away witb, so far aa the front is concerned, and the whole thrown into one, intersected by lines of plantations to which reference will be made presently. The land fronts on the main road, and runs back to the railway line, extending on the frontage nearly to the station. On the j other side of the line is the lecent purchase of the Board of Governors—one hundred acres—which ia certainly a very desirable addition. The land ia of splendid quality, and its fertility was amply evidenced at the time of our visit by the sight of some mammoth mangolds which were then growing thereon. Forty acres of it is in stubble and mangolds, the remaining sixty being in grass. In the latter is a very good creek, which will j be a boon in the dry season, besides helping to keep the land moist.

After accepting Mr Ivey'a hospitable invitation to lunch, we set forth to view the premises, and the first to come nnder notice waa the proposed site of the farm buildings proper. These it mnst be remembered are different from the college to which reference will be made later on. In the former the actual practical work of the farm, suoh as sheep drafting, cow milking and feeding, dairy work, &c, will be carried on, whilst the college will be need for the theoretical part of the curriculum, such as the delivery of lectures, perfecting experiments with manures, <_.. Tbe buildings, it may here be remarked, have been planned by Mr Ivey so as to combine the greatest efficiency, with economy of time and labor. It is intended that the students shall carry out all the operations themselves, so as to give them a thorough knowledge of all the processes, including what may be called the mechanical part, as well as the higher branches of scientific farming. The area intended to be occupied by tbe buildings, rick yards, &c, ia 266 ft x 240 ft, the buildingproper occupying2ooft x 130 ft of thia area. The whole of the northern boundary of the land devoted to thia purpose will be ocoupied by a shed lift wide, which will be used for storage of the implements, an office, a store for artificial manures, a curing and smoking room for the manufacture of bacon, slaughter-house, &c. On the eastern face of the area will be the hack stable, the buggy house, cow byre, with sixteen stalls, a granary for the prod nee of the land devoted to experiments, which will also be need for the atorage of chaff when not wanted for the produce. Mr Ivey intends to treat the chaff far feed in the way now extensively practised by some of the largest farming establishments at Home, viz., tread it in with layers of salt, in which condition it is eaten by stock with avidity. The cow byre, to which reference has been made, will bave feeding passages running down the head of each row of cows, and a passage for removal of the manure running east and west down tbe centre. This passage leads into the straw yard, whioh forma as it were a quadrangle j 55ft. x 60ft. The dairy will be a detached building to the eastward of the cow byre, a road 22ft. wide dividing them. The dairy, as planned by Mr Ivey, will be/for the manufacture both of butter and cheese. ~ Tbe accommodation will comprise a creamery and churn room, the former being adapted for carrying out both the deep and shallow pan systems, both being advocated by some of the best writers on dairy management. The oheese room will be fitted for carrying into effect the American factory system which has lately been introduced into England very successfully, notably in Derbyshire. There will also be a cheese room and a spacious verandah for drying utensils, &c. In connection with the dairy is a room whioh will be used as a kind of scullery. This will be fitted with boiler and steam and cold water jets for the thorough cleansing of the utensils used in the dairy. The water, with which the dairy will be plentifully supplied, will be raised by means of turbine windmills. At the western side of the straw-yard, before spoken of, will be the cart-horse stables, 21ft, by 67, comprising eight stalls and a loose box. Here the horses used on the farm will be stabled and attended to by the students. The stable is fitted with a feeding passage at the heads of the horses. This passage is considered necessary, inasmuch as the students will have to carry out this duty, and it will enable all the horses to be fed easily and expeditiously by one attendant. At the end of the passage will be the corn bins and chaff house, so that, time, which is of importance in the working of a large establishment suoh as the-model farm, will be economised aa much as possible. The southern side of tho straw yard will be occupied by houses for the accommodatio- of bulls, calves, Ac, and to the. westward of the stable will be two c-ttle yards, with sheds, intended to be used for mustering young stock. Tbe western aide will be occupied by the piggeries and food house also, with accommodation for breeding sows and fatting pigs. These buildings, as stated, form a kind of quadrangle round what is technically called the working court, affording accommodation for putting machinery together, turning the various machines used on the- farm, &c. Accommodation ia also provided for storage of roots and straw. The rick yard ia to the southward of the farm buildings, and sites are reserved for ricks, having I passages between so planned that elevators are placed close up ;to the chaff room. The threshing machines, chaff cutters, &c, are } now on their way from England.

Having gone over the site of the farm buildings, the details of which were fully explained to us by Mr Ivey, we proceed to the plantations, whioh have been planned with a view of sheltering the grounds from the most prevalent winds, viz.—north-west, south-west, and north-east. In these there are some 6000 young trees, mainly pinus insignia, which look very well, notwithstanding the dry season. These plantations are divided into three parts. The first of these, about fourteen acres, will be devoted to the experimental work of the farm. Here will be tried new cereals and the effects of various manures thereon, fodder plants, grasses, &c, so as to discover what manures suit different plants best, and what description of cereals and fodder plants are best adapted to the soil and climate. Crossing this paddock, we come next to the grounds in front of the College proper. Here the plantations are arranged in form of two ovals running np each aide, with clumps of planting in the most exposed corners.

At the rear of the College buildings are two or three paddocks, in which are some high claaa Leicester sheep, which form the nucleus of the flock of the farm.

We next came to the College proper, which has so far advanced as to be ready for roofing in. The building is of brick with stone dressings, the stone used being of a new kind, similar in appearance to the Oamaru stone, but of a harder and more durable quality. _ The entrance porch is very handsome, leading into a hall 10ft x 22ft. On the right hand aide on entrance is the library and museum, 24ft x 14ft, a lecture hall, 32ft x 22ft, lighted by a square window, 10ft 6in x 3ft 6in, and a circular bay window, 10ft -in x 6ft. On the left hand side is the director's office, 15ft x 14ft, and close by this ia the staircase by which access is gained to the upper floor, 14ft x Bft.' The dining hall cornea next, which is a very handsome apartment, 30ft by 22ft, lighted by two windows, each 10ft x 3ft Tm. A corridor runs through 60ft x 6ft. Opening out oh to this are four studies, each 12ft x i 10ft, which will be found of great oonve- ! nience to the students. At the far end of the corridor are two more studies, 14ft 9in x 13ft 6in, and 12ft 4in x 10ft. The students' laboratory is 40ft x 18ft 3in, and behind this is a balance room 14ft x Bft 9in, aud a private laboratory for testing manures, &c, of the same size. There is a bath room Bft. 6in. by 7ft, a student's court 2iffc., and a

covered oorridor 42ft. by 6ft, On tbe nppsr floor are twenty bedrooms, bath rooms, luggage rooms, linen closet, housemaid's cltsat, &0., and other offices. The private quarters of the director are also rerj complete.

The_ stock on the farm at present only comprises horses and sheep. The former are of the ordinary working type, but very good at that; and the sheep of the Leicester breed. It is not intended to go in altogether for high class stock in the matter of horses, which is a wise resolve, the farm being intended to fit the students for the ordinary work of the farm. Mr Ivey has a great deal of work before him in bringing the place into order, but doubtless from the experience ha haa gained in a similar position on the other side, he will be enabled to make the model farm a great acquisition to the farmers of the province. As already intimated the Board of Governors. have instituted competitive scholarships, by means of which several boys will receive three years' tuition at the farm free of any charge whatever. This will enable farmers' sons, whatever their position as to means may be, to avail themselves of the advantages offered by the school to perfect themselves in the knowledge of how best to till the soil with advantage to the colony as a whole and profit to themselves.