AGRICULTURAL INSTRUCTION IN AMERICA.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14457, 1 June 1911, Page 7

AGRICULTURAL INSTRUCTION IN AMERICA.

Tc# the Editor of the- ,l Timaru Herald." Sir, —I have read with much pleasure yoivr leading articles in the "Timor u Herald" on the teaching of Agricultural courses' at the Timaru High School. lam a.lso pleased to see that there is going -to be an opportunity ' for tho children of South Canterbury to learn something of the art of farming. We have plenty of brains in tlie great teaching profession ih South Canterbury, if only there is an opportunity for it to teach Agriculture, so I wish it everv success in the Bear future. Now, *1 herewith send you what the United States-hai done in regard, to Agricultural Schools and Colleges. These institutions for Agricultural -education in the United' States may be classified as follows; (1) Institutions in which the sciences relating to agriculture are taught; (2) colleges in which these sciences axetaught along with tlie theory and practices of Agriculture; (3) schools in winch tho elements of Agriculture andr oflier sciences are taught in- connection, with the practices of agriculture. In addition to regular courses of from two t<> four years' duration, manv institutions give short farmers' courses during the winter months These short courses take up such 'topics as feeding farm animals, stock judging witter making, growing small fruits orchard pruning, greenhouse, man-wl n li vi lvst a ', tl t0 farru animals, ami other like subjects of direct and'immediate, interest, .to..the man on .tlie ■ arm . Usually there is lio cost attached to tho instruction- other than a small fee.for the materials actually used by the student, and' the- amount required ior board.. These short -courses last from three to fight weeks 3 or longer, depending on tlie subjects . taken. ihougli of comparatively recent introduction, these short courses 1 are proving of great value to' tlio.se farmers who cannot take a full college conrse, and who feel the necessity . of improving their methods of farming »\nd of keeping up with the in .agriculture Many of the agricultural colleges conduct reading course's for the benefit .of those ' Farmers = W-lio are not able to attend even tlie short winter courses. 4 fc ™' ls - l :)r ® time ey-ery Stat© J and / e , r !' lt «y m tlie United' States except Alaska, possesses an agricultur- • : college. In some instances it is > combined with the university of the State, wlule iu a few States (Alabama, Z Delaware l-lorid.i, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia) there are separate institutions for coloured students. Tlie full course in these colleges usually occupies four years . Students are admitted at 14 ' or 15 years of age, if ablo to pass satisfactory entrance examination in eleir.entary brandies. Tuition is free for " the whole period, and the cost of the . course is limited to board and 1 room, hooks and other iucidoutal expenses of S the student. At the Michigan Wiit cultural College, which is the"oldest 1 in tlie country, and one of the be=t the i. actual necessary cost for a student in- '• eluding board and room, falls within 150 dollars, per' year. Both theoretical and practical instruction in all the brandies of agriculture and related sciences are given in this school At tho Michigan Agricultural College the .. course covers the following subi«cts ! »"<T leads to the degree of Bichelor ■ of. Science:—Algebra. English, Military I lence and drill, Botany, agriculture, blacksmithmg, carpenter work drawing, physics, chemistry, geometrv anatomy, physiology, veterinary science entomology, horticulture, trigonometry. surveying, fungous diseases of plants, rhetoric, agricultural dhemistrv fqrestry, bacteriology, constitutional history, economic zoologv engineering, geology, rsychologv. lo'nc' political economy. Instruction "is also given in French and German, and provision is also made for post-gradu-ate studies, leading to the d-egreis of Master of Science, Mechanical" Eiiaineer. and Master of Agriculture Tlie courses in other State- are vcrv similar in character. Now South Canterbury shoiild make every effort to do likewise.—l am etc., Cava. D "

KEEP FIT—DRINK WAI-RONGOA. 11 tho atomaeh is right, and tho That's why if you want good health you should drink Wai-Rongoa, tho world's best natural minoral water. It aids digestion, doors tho blood, keeps ■ you perfectly tit. A glassful before breakfast will banish gout, rheumatism, etc. ... Tho Government has presented Mr K. Claude, of Wostfiold, with £3O as , a reward for his prompt and capable I action in stopping the runaway train at Ot&huhu on the night of April 17th, 1 thus saving tho Main Trunk train from the possibility of collision. The inquiry showod that the express driver had seen the other train, and pulled up before Claude displayed tho red light, and tho driver has therefore boon granted £lO bonus ror keeping a good look out.