H.—.21

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placed on the farm there for a period averaging two to three months. They are trained to handle horses, milk cows, and in the general management of stock, as well as receiving a little instruction in cultivation. _ . . I recognize that if the farms put a considerable area under cultivation, and this is devoted to raising special crops for which there is a great demand, and which in my opinion the Department should endeavour to meet, the revenue will be considerably increased. I have already commenced on this policy, and even in the balance-sheet which will be published after the end of this month shall be able to show that the expenditure has decreased and the revenue increased. The special crops I am speaking of consist principally of seed wheat. We breed and produce large quantities of seed wheat, utilizing for this purpose a total area of some 2,000 acres on our various farms. The demand for this seed is very great, and during the past two or three seasons we have been unable to supply one-tenth of the quantity applied for, in spite of the fact that we charge a fixed rate of 6s. per bushel. It can be understood that growing large quantities of seed wheat at this rate can be easily made a commercial success. There is also a considerable demand for purebred live-stock, including horses, dairy cattle, sheep, and pigs, which is greatly adding to the income of the farms. '■'- '"'"" I am quite satisfied that the training at the Hawkesbury and the other schools is turning out practical farmers, and that the policy should be pursued by the Government. With regard to the number of students, I would rather take a hundred at first, and if the demand for accommodation . should exceed this would start farm schools and raise the status of the College. I agree with Mr. Potts's estimate of £50,000 for initial outlay and £5,000 per annum. Copt of Letter from Mr. H. W. Potts, Principal of Hawkesbury Agricultural College, to Mr. Newman, M.P., dealing with the Cost to the State of the College. Department of Agriculture, New South Wales, Deak Mr. Newman, — Hawkesbury Agricultural College, Richmond, 25th July, 1913. I read your report through last night, and noted one matter that ought to be made fairly clear in case it injures the impression you desire to convey. The point you make is that it costs the State £65 per annum for each student. You suggest that the intermediate schools will affect this estimate — i.e., winter, summer, and rural camp schools —but I desire to point out that there are other expensive items to be considered. We will take a few that just occur to me from memory : — 1. Visitors for the half-year ending June, 1913, number 3,310. These are brought from the train in College or hired vehicles. They have luncheon, afternoon tea, and are sent back to the train at 4 p.m. Occasionally a farmer or two, or several, will announce that they have been unable to gather enough information, and with this legitimate excuse they stay overnight and are afforded every opportunity of solving problems for the solution of which they have journeyed long distances to the College. Again, every week-end we entertain clergymen, public speakers, professors, entertainers to assist at our weekly concerts, Christian Union gatherings, &c. Conferences are held here by Ministers and delegates to various bodies, such as Shire Councillors, annual conference farmers and settlers, fruit associations, irrigation conferences, poultry conferences, &c. The latter numbered 400, and we spent £10 in vehicles alone. These conferences are valuable, but it is not fair to charge students with them. 2. This is an experiment farm, where we have set apart two professional officers, a staff of men, horses, vehicles, and equipment especially engaged to determine phases of agricultural work for the farmers of the whole State. 160 acres are under intense culture; four to five hundred varieties of wheats especially bred here are tested; oats, ryes, maize, millets, sorghums, root crops, grasses, &c, are subjected to test, some of them extending over ten years, to get them acclimatized and then test their commercial value. All fruits are tested, and every variety of any note subjected to a market-value test. For instance, we have absolutely tested the bearing capacity of 120 varieties of peaches alone. Some are valueless, and others good. Our results are made available to the man on the land. It is expensive, but it is better for one central institution to conduct reliable investigations than to have hundreds of struggling producers floundering about and wasting time and money. 3. In stock we have proved by actual test the class of stock most suitable for men in certain climatic and geographical areas, determined their limitations, and rejected any showing weaknesses. Such have been conducted in sheep suitable for our coastal areas and in draught horses, selecting the Romney Marsh in the one instance and the Clydesdale in the other. In pigs we discarded small Yorkshires, Essex, and one or two other sorts. In poultry we conducted tests spreading over fourteen years, and have made many practical bases, all of commercial value. Angora goats were rejected after seven years' test. All this class of work is costly : why charge the students with it? In plant-diseases, in testing new manures, sprays, and other research work we have kept a staff employed. In veterinary work we have conducted research work in tuberculosis, contagious mammitis, and other diseases, all entailing special rates. One-fifth of the matter appearing in our monthly Agricultural Gazette for farmers is written by members of our staff. 4. We have from eight to fourteen free bursars —sons of poor but deserving citizens, chiefly widows' sons—who have distinguished themselves in the public schools. It is not fair to charge their annual cost to students.