TRAINING AT RUAKURA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19458, 14 October 1926, Page 13

TRAINING AT RUAKURA.

EXPERIMENTAL FARM WORK, FACILITIES FOR STUDENTS. A COMPREHENSIVE SYLLABUS. fBY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.? HAMILTON. Wednesday. ■ The system of agricultural training imparted to the students in residence on the Ruakura experimental farm was explained- in the course of an interview with the manager, Mr. H. Munro, and the principal of the farm school, Mr. P. W. Smallfield. The present system whereby students undertook a two-years course was commenced in August, 1923. The course is bated primarily on local farming conditions, and, although all general systems of New Zealand farming are taught, the methods of instruction are so arranged that general systems of farming are not touched upon until the student has thoroughly mastered local, farming methods. There are now 40 students in training. The Ruakura farm consists of 900 acres of land, which is level to undulating. The land varies considerably in quality and is worked as far as practicable on commercial lines. On the farm are maintained pedigree herds of milking Shorthorns, Jerseys, Ayrshires, and Guernseys, and about 100 cows arc milked. Marketable products yielded in this de. parlment are cream, yearling or two-year-old bulls and two or three-year-old heifers. Thoroughly Practical Training. A flock of 1000 crossbred ewes is kept, and from these fat lambs are raised. Mature ev/es are purchased from the graziers and are mated wilih Southdown rams, both ewes and lambs being sold at the end of the season. Stud and flock rams are bred from a registered flock of Southdown ewes kept on the farm. When conditions are favourable store sheep and cattle are bought and fattened on the farm. In addition to cattle and sheep, pedigree Berkshire pigs and large white pigs are kept for the breeding of young boars and sows. Horticulture, apiculture and fruit production are also carried on. The farm is equipped with all the necessary buildings, implements and machinery, including a tractor for the efficient conduct of th'o f >rm operations. Ample opportunity is afforded students for s, thoroughly practical training. The si; .ients r>p nd alternate weeks oa | theoretical and practical work, and the system is so arranged that they get an insight into all phases of practical farming, including milking, team work and shearing. Besides gaining practical knowledge and manual skill the students are brought closely into touch with all the pedigree livestock on the farm. Ordinary farm hours are observed when the youths are in the field. Lectures and Demonstrations. The theoretical work consists of lectures and demonstrations, and the curriculum has been designed entirely for the boy who wants to be a farmer and not a teacher or research student. A complete text of all the lectures delivered is supplied to each boy. Emphasis is laid on the importance of grass land and livestock management, and the proper utilisation of pastures. The first year is occupied in giving instruction on soils, pastures, crops, livestock, and local farming methods, so that students who are unable to attend for two years—■ generally the sons of small farmers—gain an excellent insight into local farming methods. The instruction of youths in farming methods is not a simple business, and much of the experience gained in agricultural training centres in other lands is of little use in New Zealand. A great deal depends on the type of student, and many overlook the fact that the young' New Zealanaer has a different outlook on life from that of the youth of other lands. The son of a farmer, or the youth from the city who wishes to be a farmer, has an essentially practical outlook. During the three years that the Ruakura College has been established, a great deal of valuable experience has been gained. The whole aim of the course has been to instruct the boys in the actual business of farming and, ill the case of younger boys, especially to train them to follow carefully the management of good commercial farms, on which they may work after leaving the college, before taking up farms of their own. Many New Zealand boys go to work ! on commercial farms, and although they may gain sufficient manual dexterity to become efficient farm labourers, they pay 60 little attention to the business of farming that they have little chance of becoming efficient in that respect.