EXPERIMENTAL FARM AT MARION JUNCTION.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10512, 23 November 1912, Page 5

EXPERIMENTAL FARM AT MARION JUNCTION.

It is surprising the small number of residents in our midst who are acquainted with the existence of the Experimental Farm at the Marten Junction, and yet there are being trained there a number of youths who are sure to develop into good tillers of the soil. Its inception is due to the generosity of Mr J. G. Wilson Coresident of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union), who has given the youths the use of five acres of land on which they can try their skill at farming, and he has also lent implements and horses. The Wanganui Education Board then assisted, and at present there is a school with outhouses erected. During the vvinter months the boys have a three-hours course, and the teacher, Mr J. Grant, [gives them a fair idea of the rudiments of farming, and also the necessary knowledge relating to' animals. A tine sample of the lessons taught is a pen A. M. Theed, of Hunter - ville, a former scholar, entitled “Bones of a Cow.” which testifies to the practical knowledge that has been gained at the school. The artist had evidently worked from the skeleton of a cow, and pieced it together, showing the different parts disjointed and jointed, and it is a clever piece of work, reflecting great .credit on him. From the schoolroom a move is made to the fnld at the proper season, where ploughing, discing and harrowing is carried out under Mr Grant’s tuition, who is ably seconded by Mr O. A. Banner. Owing to the unfavourable season |[a crop of silver beet that was put in proved a failure, the scholars being unable to attend to it on account of the rain, and after that ,iu get too hard to work. Despite these hardships the boys set to work as soon as the weather was propitious, with the result tiiat .they have an acre in potatoes, including Million Makers, Up-to-Dates, Beauty- of Hebrous, Early Rose hind British Queen, and Thursday saw three acres sown in oats. Trial plots for testing seeds have also formed an important part in their labours, 68 plots being laid down, consisting of poas, fescues, cocksfoot, wheats, maizes, and several other cereals. The whole of this work is carried out without any additional cost to the Department, the work undertaken by Messrs Grant and Banner being done without reuneration. The Railway Department generously give the boys free railway passes, and as showing the interest evinced in tiie work the boys travel from Wanganui, Taihape, Feilding, Turakina and neighbouring districts.