TRAINING BOY FARMERS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1704, 22 March 1913, Page 8

TRAINING BOY FARMERS.

!••■■'• THE ALMADALE CAMP, Tho work of the boys who have just concluded a term in nn agricultural camp at; Mr. .G - . Short's farm at Cheltenham was, says our Foilding correspondent, under renew at tho meeting of tho A. and V. Association. Some time ago tho association offered gold and silver medals for tho boys showing tho best work in tho camp, , ' and appointed Messrs. H. J. Booth aridTHiigh Burrell ns judges. The awards have- now been made, and Mr. Booth reported on tho results. He said a 'number of draught horsee liail been placed before the- Uoys, who were asked to place tho first three 'and to givo their reasons why. Six of the boys had placed tho horses corlectlvj according to the judgment of tho experts (it, tho farm. The awards wcro finally' made, as follow:—First, James Stewart (I'eilding'D.H.S.); second, D. Bells OVaiijjanuiJj'rliinl, IC. Beliit (Feilding). Mr.. Booth wont on to say how well tho boys had dono their' work, tho thorough grasp they had of tho points of the animals, and tho whole-souled interest they took in tho classes, He commended tlio exccllenco of their methods, which wero aheiul of those of many older meu.whowere supposed to know. Mr.'Burrell said'he had bacn greatly impressed-■ with the .boys' eagerness to learn. ■ He them going over tho Itomney sheep, following a practical lecture by Mr. E. Short, and they seemed to .have got a thorough interest in tho ltoinney and in its peculiarities and points. - It was surprising to him that the buys should hava absorbed so 'much knowledge of the ■ sheep—ho could not do it. The boys judged tho sheep in a mariner which could not have been excelled by tho best judges in New Zealand. They not only selected the best, but they gave ttioir reasons why. It was really a revelation. Jlr. Short had given a lecture on the Romneys which had taught him (Mr. Burrell) a good deal, and which had done the boys a great deal of good. Ho understood'that of the boys who had attended the camp last year one or two were going to the llawkosbiiry Collego in New South Wales,-several to the Stato Farms in New Zealand, and others to farms.

Mr. E. Short said next year the camp would be for a .fortnight. Ho would Have the sheep all together, eo that the boys would bo able to study tlio lot.' Ho regretted that'more farmers had not atended tlie : camp to, see what was going on:and.to encourage the boys by.taking an intersst in'tliem. It- was decided that one gold and two silver medals "be procured for the prizewinners at the camp which has just con-' eluded.. 'Miv Booth proposed that it be a recommendation to the incoming coimnittce of the association to provide points prizes in tho-shape of medal? for . the judging of"horses, cattle, and sheep, with a special prize for good conduct m tho camp. . .This .was agreed to. "The president (Mr. E. Short) then intimated that-he would bo pleased to re-c-eivo donations for prizes in tho individual "classes,, and; in a few minutes the ."following "h'ad'J'.been offered:— ' "Mi - :.'J-' IT.' I'crrett; medal for the best ■behaved I 'hoy in the camp. ' : llv.-'J. W! Brainwell, gold, medal, as a first prize for-judging horses. " Mr. H. ,T. Booth. two silver medals as second and third prizes for jnd.eing horses. ■Mr. J. G; (!obbe, one gold and two silver medals for judging sheep. ... Mr. 'E. ..Qoo.dbelicre,", ijold medal as first prize-forjudging: cattle, vMf. . ]?. • JiY.Haggitt, .two silver medals lis' second and third prizes for judging cattle.: ...