H.—2l

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each of these schools —tweive altogether per annum —to deserving youths who could not otherwise get this technical education. The following are the names and areas of the farms under the control of the Department : — Total Area. Area cleared. Acres. Acres. 1. Bathurst Experimental Farm ... ... ... 610 610 2. Berry Experimental Farm ... ... ... 407 350 3. Coonamble Experimental Farm ... ... ... 1.950 1,500 4. Cowra Experimental Farm ... ... ... 996 450 5. Duck Creek Cane Farm ... ... ... ... 476 100 6. Dural Demonstration Orchard ... ... ... 30 30 7. Glen Innes Experimental Farm ... ... ... 1,100 436 8. Grafton Experimental Farm ... ... ... 1,063 260 9. Hawkesbury Agricultural College Experimental Farm 3,250 1,000 10. Howlong Viticultural Station ... ... ... 200 60 11. Nyngan Demonstration Farm ... ... ... 6,000 300 12. Pera Bore Orchard ... .... ... ... 60 60 13. Raymond Terrace Viticultural Station ... ... ,632 25 14. Wagga Experimental Farm ... ... ... 3,228 1,300 15. Wollongbar Experimental Farm ... ... ... 268 240 16. Yanco Experimental Farm ... ... ... 2,000 ■ 500 17. Temora Demonstration Farm ... ... ... 1,600 18. Condobolin Demonstration Farm ... ... ... 1,350 I have noted these in order to give an idea of the area which apparently is regarded as being required in New South Wales. A University Chair of Agriculture and also a Chair of Veterinary Science were founded in 1.909 by the Government. There is provision made for research work and for field demonstrations, and the Department in other ways devotes itself to the development of the science of agriculture. There is another institution to which 1 think I should refer, known as the Pitt Town Farm, which is controlled by the Labour Department. This institution deals with the boy who knows little or nothing about farm-life in Australia, and in a few months instructs him in the methods of carrying out farm-work. The boys are taken from the cities, and taught to be efficient farm labourers. The total number of scholars under tuition during the present year at the various institutions is about 392, distributed as follow :— Number of Students. Hawkesbury Agricultural College ... ... ... ... ... 200 Wagga Farm School ... ... ... ... ... ... 60 Bathurst Farm School ... ... ... ... ... ... 34 Cowra Farm Apprentice School ... ... ... ... . 22 Glen Innes Farm Apprentice School... ... ... .. ... 24 Grafton Farm Apprentice School ... ... ... ... ... 18 Wollongbar Farm Apprentice School ... ... .. ... 20 Yanco Farm Apprentice School ... ... .. ... ... 14 This number is an increase on the previous year, and, generally speaking, there appears to be no difficulty in keeping up the supply of,students. Briefly this is the Government system in vogue in New South Wales. Part 111. —Impressions of Hawkesbury Agricultural College and the New South Wales System. The first impression which I had of Hawkesbuvy College was that it was extremely well managed, and that the young men attending there were, as a class, of very fine stamp. On inquiry from Mr. Potts I was informed that about 40 per cent, of the youths were the sons of country selectors, farmers, and squatters, and the rest the sons of professional men, merchants, and others from the towns. It appears that about 1,600 scholars have passed through the College in nine years, and of these about 75 per cent, have either gone on to farm properties of their own or become manageiiof farms or teachers in Australia or other countries. This, I think, may be regarded as satisfactory. Students are found representing many parts of the world far apart from each other. There were students from South Africa (Boers), from Europe, Japan, all the Australian States, and New Zealand (including a Maori, who, I am glad to say, was very popular with both the students and the teachers). Mr. Potts stated, when asked upon what principle he ran the College, that boys were taught on commercial lines, and that his aim was, first, to develop the character of the students; second, to maintain their good health; and, third, to provide them with an education in the science of agriculture, combined with a knowledge of outdoor work, which will enable them to become successful farmers. Ihe work is practically divided into two classes — indoor work, which takes up three days in the week, and outdoor work on the farm the other three days (Saturday being partly devoted to sport or amusement). I have already referred to the system of book-keeping on the farm. Mr. Potts appeared to be thoroughly alive to the importance of this in regard to every department under his control, and the test of "Will it pay?" or, in other words, "Will it be a commercial success?" is