RUAKURA FARM SCHOOL FOR YOUTHS.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XXVII, Issue 2, 20 August 1923, Page 127

RUAKURA FARM SCHOOL FOR YOUTHS.

The new permanent farm training-school for youths-at the Ruakura Farm of Instruction, Hamilton, was opened on . 15th. August with some twenty students as a commencement. . . ’’ ‘"‘ L “«

The school is designed to provide a course of agricultural training for lads of not less than sixteen years of age and of reasonable educational attainments. The period of training will occupy two full years, divided into four terms of twenty-three weeks each, with vacation periods of three weeks between each term.

Approximately- one half of each term is to be devoted to the actual carryingout by the student himself, under direction, of all classes of farm-work incidental to the management • of a farm where cropping, grazing,' ! milk-production, meatproduction, and stock-breeding ■ are carried, out. The other , half of each term is 'to be devoted 1 to direct instruction covering the main ''features df agricultural knowledge necessary to equip the student to become a successful farmer. The objective of the course is to turn out young men well, versed in practical farming and live-stock management, with at the same time a good grounding in the sciences essential in the planning and management of the modern farm.

. In the course the principles of scientific agriculture will be given special prominence, but more from the viewpoint of the requirement of the farmer than that of the agricultural teacher or research worker. Qualified agricultural teachers will direct and superintend this side, which includes agriculture, agricultural botany and zoology, agricultural chemistry, farm veterinary science, farm mathematics and mechanics, mechanical drawing, and farm book-keeping. It is intended that the work in . these . subjects shall closely follow that laid" down in the Syllabus of the New Zealand University, , but, with the exception of agriculture, be somewhat more elementary in character.

A further twenty lads will be taken at the school in February next, the plan being to maintain a total strength of between forty and fifty. The residential quarters, class-rooms, &c., occupy the buildings previously erected and used for the training of returned soldiers. A fee, of per annum is charged to students as a contribution towards the cost of board and maintenance. >