EXPERIMENTAL FARMS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13920, 3 June 1909, Page 7

EXPERIMENTAL FARMS.

WHAT DO THEY COST:' As an. illustration of what other countries are paying for their experimental work, ".lie New Zealand Farmers' Advocate gives a few figures of the cost of some of the Govern incut experimental farms, of Mew South Wales, for the year ending 31st March. VMS : Hawkesbury Agricultural College: Experiments—Expenses, N £ 19.109; receipts, £6162 (including fees £4677) — net cost £13,947. Wagga, Experimental Farm: Excluding fees £949) —net cost £7877. Bathurst Experimental Farm: Expenses. £12.36-5; receipts, £297-5 —net cost £U2«JO. ' Woolongbar Experimental Farm: Expenses £1988: receipts. £79S net cost, £ll9O. •' We have (says the Advocate) no returns published in this country of what our experimental farms cost, which we think is a great mistake, as people may have an exaggerated idea of the actual cost to the country, and it would be much wiser to have bal-;ince-shects published. In the Estimates, under the heading of •'Experimental Farms: Erection and repairs of buildings, purchase of stock, and entertainment of visitors" —there are

sums of money set opposite each farm: but there are receipts to be taken into account, and probably the cost to the country is not very much. It is certain that it does not approach the amount that New South Wales is spending, as it never can be wrong to tell the truth, we hope that one of the innovations the lately appointed Minister for Agriculture will carry out, is the publication of the receipts and expenditure of the various e.voerinieutal farms. Let us see what they '" cost, r.nd we can know definitely whether the result is worth the expenditure."