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TECHNICAL EDUCATION FOR FARM HANDS.

It has'been a. frepuent complaint of Late years (.says the "Journal, of this Board of Agriculture," London), that the. old skilled rac nf agricultural labourers is fast disap l>earing from this country, and that .there are no young men coming on'to take their place. This has not-been due to any lack on tits? part of farnurs of encouragement to the men in their employ to become specialty skilled -workmen. Agricultural societies' and similar bodies have held com. petitions for farm hands in the various manual processes of agriculture, and such competitipns have called forth a kstn spirit of emulation amongst, those who. haw -taken part in the, and have assisted what is probably .the truest form of education, that of enabling a pemoh to educate himself by observing the practical and the .skill or proficiency of others. Still, there was nc doubt "that if the old-fashioned pride and .skill in manual work was to be revived, something more was., needed. This to largely to be supplied at the passing of thCustoms and Excise Act of 188 C', . which enabled the matter to be camied a step further, by placing it within the power ol County Councils to make, pro vision for definite" instruction in these various subjects, and thus trying- to arouse fresh in■teiest in them. Several County Councils, from the. outset availed themselves of the opportunities thus ottered, and from ar official report that lias been issued it appears that instruction in manual processes is given in fifteen counties, the .subject' comprising ploughing, drilling, 1 grass mowing, setting out of roots, harvesting, setting up sheaves, stacking, thatching (including rope and spar milking), hurdle making, basket making, sheep shealing, milking, hedging and ditching, land draining, pruning, grafting, budding, hop drying,' and frui: packing. The most general subject, however, is hedging and ditching, which is taken up in almost all His? counties, while ploughing and thatching are taught in more" than half of those, counties which have made returns.

Two counties have mentioned shepherding as having-eugaged attention. This can hardly be classed as manual process, but mention may be made of the Jway in which hwtruetion is provided in Dorset by means o) a yearly examination of shepherds and their pupils. Owners, who wish so to do, enter their flocks for the sake of their shepherds, who are, during the examined in,a very thorough and practical maimer. The examiner foi tiie year is a local farmer who is- associated in tills work with the county staff instructor iii agriculture. The two visit: eacl riock two or thr?e time.-j during the season, carefully examine its condition, take note 01 the percentage of lambs reared, put searching, but informal'questions to the shepherd as to his management of the flock in health and in dkease, and finally examine his pupil. According to the answers of this last, not only are marks awarded'to him for the competition in which he take?part, but reward is accorded to the shepherd who has him under training. . The work has now been in progress for several years, and the good results accruing from it aie becoming incrfiw ingly apparent, especially in getting the men to manage- theii flocks in an intelligent and open manner.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/THD19070620.2.51

Bibliographic details

Timaru Herald, Volume XC, Issue 13317, 20 June 1907, Page 7

Word Count
540

TECHNICAL EDUCATION FOR FARM HANDS. Timaru Herald, Volume XC, Issue 13317, 20 June 1907, Page 7

TECHNICAL EDUCATION FOR FARM HANDS. Timaru Herald, Volume XC, Issue 13317, 20 June 1907, Page 7