DUNEDIN FARM SCHOOL.
As a result of the unqualified success which met the inauguration of a course of instruction to farmers held in Dunedin last winter, the Department of Agriculture has again arranged to hold a similar course of lectures free to the farmers of Otago This course of instruction is one of many to be held throughout the dominion, and is the outcome of the energetic advances in agricultural instruction that are being carried out by the fields instruction branch of the department under its capable director. Mr A. If. Cockayne. The United States and Canada have accepted the principle of short courses for farmers as an integral part of their rural educational system. In the former country as many as 3000 farmers attended Ohio University College for a short course of instruction in one year, while at lowa Slate College of Agriculture 2469 attended. During the students’ winter vacation at Hawkesbury Agricultural College, New South Wales, a school for farmers has been most successfully conducted for many years. Professor A. E. V. ttichardson, superintendent of agriculture for Victoria, who recently visited Canterbury, states: “The interest taken by the people of the United States in higher education, and particularly in agricultural education, is shown in many ways. The magnificent buildings the large number of students attending high schools, colleges, and universities per thousand of their population, and the willingness of the people to tax themselves for the support of these institutions are evidence of their interest.” It must appear evident in a country like New- Zealand, where over 80 per cent, of its wealth is derived from agricultural and pastoral pursuits, that an efficient system of agricultural education is an absolute essential to national progress. Money spent on agricultural education and development is a wise national investment, which is repaid to the country many times over in the form of increased material prosperity. Fortunately, much attention has been given to the development of rural education in the primary, secondary, and high schools. Lincoln College has provided a much-needed advanced course of agriculture, while ivuakura Farm of Instruction has trained cadets in vocational work. "Very little so far has been done to meet the needs of the man on the land. The Department of Agriculture, the Farmers’ Union, and the Otago Expansion League have co-operated in carrying out a series of lectures on agricultural subjects during the past few years. That these lectures have been appreciated is evidenced by the satisfaetorv attendance at all centres Last winter one officer alone delivered 32 lectures to 1000 farmers. The system, however is only efficient up to a point, the weakness being that there is little or no continuity of discussion on important points of farm practice. Further, the important consideration of co-relating the various phases of farming is not possible under the isolated lecture system, and it is in this respect that the farm school should be very valuable. With the winter school there is amnle opportunity for farmers from widely scattered districts to compare notes. The main objects of the course may be summarised as follows-(D To give the largest amount of information in practical agriculture and live stock management in the shortest possible time without undue crowding ; (2) to give this information at a season of the year when farm work is least pressing ; (3) to awaxen the young farmers to tne many interesting facts and opportunities on the farm and generally to make them better farmers and more intelligent and useful citizens. The Technical College Board has consented to place the King Jvciward Technical College at the department’s disposal for the week of the course. Day lectures will therefore be held in the college proper, and in the evenings, when a large attendance of the general public is anticipated, the lectures will be held in the Burt Hall. The syllabus for the forthcoming school, to be held from May 26 to May 31, is so arranged as to provide instructive lectures in ti.c mornings, outdoor demonstrations in the afternoons, and popular lectures t<, which citizens in general are invited in the evenings. The scope of the syllabus i s such as to provide subjects of interest to agricultural farmer, stock owners, and dairymen, and comprises:—Farm management, controi of moisture in soil, manuring, irrigation crop growing, pastures, insect pests and crop diseases, farm gardening, shelter belts stock feeding, veterinary lectures and do' monstrations, sheep breeding and management. herd testing, agricultural education, and the economic situation. The lecturers will bo well-known authorities in the subjects with which they will deal, and a course of practical instruction is assured. It is gratifying to note the excellent cooperation that has been forthcoming from organisation interested in rural development. There is every prospect that the forthcoming farm school will be even better attended than that of last year, when close on 200 farmers from all parts of the country gathered together in Dunedin to att-' r d the lectures.
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Otago Witness, Issue 3662, 20 May 1924, Page 15
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825DUNEDIN FARM SCHOOL. Otago Witness, Issue 3662, 20 May 1924, Page 15
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