EXPERTS FOR THE FARM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18380, 21 April 1923, Page 10

EXPERTS FOR THE FARM

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE,

THE OALIFORNIAN V METHOD.

i" The pitch to which scientific education sin relation to agriculture has been, brought in ; California was revealed yesterday by Professor 0. F. Shaw, professor ;of .soil technology at the University of California, who is a through passenger by the Niagara to Australia. Professor Shaw, who is accompanied ,;.by ■; Mrs. : Shaw, intends making investigations .in Australia concerning agricultural progress and methods, as well as into land settlement schemes, and oh returning to New Zealand about July next will continue his, researches. He N will pay particular attention, to the dairying industry in' the Dominion and will endeavour to persuade both Australia and New Zealand to send delegates to fhe world's dairy congress to be held in the United States in December next, probably in Chicago. It is proposed that the congress 'shall discuss such matters as the handling of milk and butter in the large centres of population, and the desirability of establishing adequate standards for butter, cheese, condensed and dried milk, and other, products. . .. . , ' Some interesting information 'on the scientifio instruction in agriculture imparted at the University of California at Berkeley, near San Francisco, was given by Professor Shaw, who said that of the 10,000 students attending the institution at least 1600 were, studying agriculture. The training in the four-year agricultural course dealt purely with the scientific side of the ■ industry, and the immediate goal was a degree equal'in value and standing to that issued to graduates in law, iicience, or engineering. ,-,: It was, .of course, necessary that those desiring to take this course should have scholastic attainments of a satifactory nature. The professor pointed out that some practical experience was desirable, and the students were encouraged to acquire this in their vacation. By an organised system the students spent six weeks of this time studying the varying soils of the State, covering about 2000 miles by motor in order to take full advantage of the time at their disposal. .; . ■■. Discussing the practical value of this course of study, Professor Shaw said that approximately 60 per cent, of the graduates went on to the land, a further 20 per cent, devoted themselves to the scientific side, thus securing a profession. as instructors in agriculture at the high schools, and the remainder found occupations in other directions. Most of the students who went on the ■ land after graduation, however, worked for landholders. It was calculated, that in California £500 was necessary to establish a small farm, and only a small percentage were able to afford this. The scientific training which they had \ received enabled them to advance rapidly, said Professor Shaw, and from the most subordinate positions they soon rose to be managers or. assistant-managers of : their employers' holdings. M