STATE EXPERIMENTAL FARM.

Otago Witness, Issue 2812, 5 February 1908, Page 23

STATE EXPERIMENTAL FARM.

.INTERESTING PARTICULARS. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

AUCKLAND. January 30.

Sonio interesting information regarding the future policy of the Government in respect to the State experimental farms in general and the Ruakura Station in particular was obtained by an interviewer from the Hon. R. M'Nab (Minister of Agriculture) at Hamilton yesterday.

Mr M'Nab, who visited Ruakura with Mr J. D. Ritchie (Secretary of Agriculture) and Mr E. Clifton (chief of the Stock Department), stated that he had inspected a site chosen for the building which the Government has decided to erect adjoining the nursery for the accommodation of cadets. The sum of £1000 was voted for this purpose la6fc session, and it is expected that the total cost will be about £1250. The building will afford accommodation for about 12 cadets, with which it is hoped to make a start in the initiation of the work. "-We are continually," said Mr M'Nab, " being approached by farmers who desire that their som have an. opportunity of seeing farming of a high, class carried on. There are also the other young fellows who come to the Dominion from Home, and who desire to get an idea of farming conditions in New Zealand before they take up land on their own account. We will be able to cater for these classes of students." The cadets, he said, would be able to gain a practical knowledge of the work, but although a few lectures would, of coureer be given, the object aimed at was not the establishing of an agricultural school in the ordinary sense of the word. He hoped to have similar provisions made at the other State farms as they got further forward. The original plans for the building had been destroyed in the late fire ai Parliament House, but theee had been replaced, and the buildinsr would be ready for occupation next 6ummer. Aeked if he considered that the Ruakura farm is satisfactorily fulfilling the object for which it was established, the Minister replied: "Yes, from all I can hear it is proving a useful model for the whole of the Waifcato. We have, of couTse, to remember that the longer these farms are in existence, the more complete they must be made. They must be kept up to data or else they lose their power as an example for good. We do not, of course, expect the farms which exist, not for commercial but 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 within £2500 to £3000 of the expenditure."

Mr M'Nab, who had not visited the farm for some 14 months, was agreeably surprised at the great growth made by the flas plantations since his former visit. The change, he said, was marvellous. A larg« number of varieties had been planted foi testing purposes, but these had been reduced to a few which were regarded ai profitable for milling purposes. In addition to the plants, flax wa3 also being grown from seed, and the results of th« experiments were being most carefully watched. In this connection the Minister referred to the experiments with flax at Levin. Some of the varieties there had been milled, and the report of the giaders on these would be available shortly.