SCHOOL OF HORTICULTURE.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16119, 25 January 1918, Page 5

SCHOOL OF HORTICULTURE.

AGE ICULTURAL DEPARTMENT'S PROPOSALS. Reference was made at the Nurserymen's Conference last night by Mr T. \Y. Kirk, Director of Orchards, to the remarks made hv the lion. W. D. S. Mac Donald with reference to the proposed School of Horticulture. After referring- to what had been dono.in the matter of agricultural education, Mr Kirk said that there was just as much necessity for education in horticulture because theru was nowhere at present where young men and women could receive instruction in the different brandies. 'Some of these could be learned in ordinary orchards and nurseries, "but the proprietors of these did not have the opportunities • of giving instruction. The Minister, as they ivould have seen by what had appeared in the newspapers, had cordially supported the idea of the School of Horticulture, and lie (Mr Kirk) hoped to see the school established and pupils of both sexes receive training in general horticulture. After a certain amount of proficiency iiad been attained, provision would be made for specialisation in fruitgrowing, vegetable growing, small fruitgrowing, and afforestation; there vould be special classes in connexion with diseases and plant pests; and an apiary school and a poultry school. That was the scheme at present in tho minds of the Departmental officers, and it was the schomo which tho Minister was favourably disposed to consider. At present the Government had many outlets for its money, but he believed that the time had arrived when - the question of establishing a School of; Horticulture should receive serious consideration, and the Minister had promised to give it that consideration. He (Mr Kirk) hoped that in con-1 nexion with the school there would be short special courses at which pupils would be received for so many weeks. Such short courses would, he believed, prove very/ popular; they had proved so in other parts of tha world. At a later stage in the proceedings Mr Kirk, when acknowledging a voto of thanks, remarked that he hoped that the day was not far distant when the nurserymen would hold their conferences in the School of Horticulture, j A delegate'; "Where will it be? Mr Kirk (more or less jocularly): In Christchurch, of courscl " ! Mr Hamilton: What about Hawke's i Bay?