EXPERIMENT FARMS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 108, 30 January 1908, Page 6

EXPERIMENT FARMS.

HON. MR. M'NAB AT RUAKURA. . ACCOMMODATION FOR CADETS. SIMILAR 'PROVISION AT OTHER ' STATE FARMS. • (BT .TSIiGRAPH—SPECIALCORRMPONEEJfT.) Auckland, January 28., Some interesting information regarding tho futuro policy of the Government in respect to the Sfcato experiment farms in general, and the Rualcura station in particular, was obtained by an interviewer from the Hon. R-. M'Nab, Minister for Agriculture, at Hamilton yesterday/ ! , Mr. M'Nab, who visited Ruakura with Mr. J. D. Ritchie (Secretary for Agriculture), and Mr. E. Ciifton. (Cliief of the Stock Department), stated that he had inspected a site chosen for the building'which tho Government has' decided to erect '.adjoining tho nursery for, the accommodation of endets. The sum of £1000' was voted-for this purpose last session, and it is expected that the total cost will be about £1350. ' The building will afford accommodation for 'about twelve \ cadets, with which it is hoped to make a start in the initiation of this new feature of the'work. ' " "Wo aro continually," said Mr. M'Nab, "being approached by farmers desire ■that their sons should have an opportunity of seeing farming of a high class -'parried - on. ~ There are lalso tbo other young fellows who oonio to the Dominion from Homo, arid who desire to get an idea of farming'.'conditions in New Zealand boforo thoy take .up land on their own account. We will bobble to cater for these classes of students." • "The.cadets," he said, : ".iypnld be able to gain a practical knowledge of the work, but although a few lectures would of course bo, f given,' t|ie' object aimed at was rittfc'. the establishing of an agricultural school in tho ordinary sense of the - word. He 'hoped to have similar provisions made at the other State farms as they, got' furthof 'fprward.; The original plans for the building'had been destroyed in tho late' fire at Parliament House, but these had been replaced', .and the building would be ready for occupation next summer." • , ':' . , Asked if he considered ;that the Ruakrira ' farm, is satisfactorily fulfilling the. object for ' which it was established,-the Minuter re-, plied : "Yes. from all I can hear,; it is proving a usoful model for the whole of tho waikato. We have, ,of course, to remember that the longer these farms aro in existence the more complete they must be made. They must bo I:ept up to date, or else thoy lose their power as an example for good. Wo do not, of course, expect the farms which exist, not--1 for commercial but. for experimental purposes, to pay their way. With.a mixed general farm like that at Ruakura, we think that we are doing satisfactorily if we ' can bring our yearly receipts withm £2500 or - £3000 of the expenditure." _ . , Mr..M'Nab, who had.not visited tliefarm for some fourteen months, was/agreeably surprised at the great growth made by, the flax plantations since his former visit. Tho change, ho said, w-as marvellous. A largo number of varieties had been planted for testing purposes, but these had been - reduced to a few which were regarded as profitable for milling purposes.' In addition to the plants, flax was also'being grown from seed, aiid the results iof the - experiments wore being most, carefully watched. In this '. connection the Minister referred >to the'experiments with flax at Levin. Some of the varieties there had already been milled, and tho report of the graders on these would be available shortly. !