194 Journal of the Department of Agriculture. 



wine-producing countries. It is pleasing to note that South Africa 

 was more fully represented, and there should be a future for its wine 

 products, the exhibits being- very promising. The Australian section, 

 however, with its greater variety, still obtains the best results. 



Purchase of " Mariendahl." 



About the middle of May, 1919, at the time when the Govern- 

 ment scheme for the training of returned soldiers was being 

 formulated, and it had been decided that the schools of agriculture 

 would take a lead in the training of these men, the farm Mariendahl, 

 adjoining Elsenburg, came on the market. The ow^ner, Mr. W. 

 Gilchrist, asked for tenders for the purchase of the farm as a running 

 concern, and the Secretary for Lands, on behalf of the Government, 

 proved the successful tenderer. The place was taken over on the 

 2nd June, 1919. 



The immediate object of the purchase was to provide for the 

 training of returned soldiers at the Elsenburg School of Agriculture. 

 Under the scheme of training decided on there are two courses open 

 for soldiers : — 



(a) The regular school course, which is the ofiicial two-year 

 diploma course. 



(6) A one-year's course, which is almost entirely practical and 

 in which no systematic courses of lectures are given in 

 those branches of farming taught at Elsenburg. 



Since Mariendahl was well stocked and liberally equipped with 

 implements, etc., it was possible with little expense to adapt the 

 place so as to afford the men a suitable course in practical agriculture. 



Mariendahl had been organized as a dairy farm by the late 

 owner, who held contracts for the supply of fresh chilled milk to 

 several institutions, etc., in Capetown, and his dairy herd (some 150 

 head of Cape cattle, mostly of the Fries strain) was tested annually 

 and freed of tuberculosis. These were included in the purchase, as 

 were also the draught animals. 



Amongst the large quantity of tools, machinery, and implements 

 purchased with the farm, there is a l|-ton refrigerating plant with the 

 necessary operating engine. The engine is adapted also for workitig 

 a grain grinder, silage cutter, etc. The farm buildings consist of 

 a long, rambling homestead, a cowbyre for 80 cows, a dairy for cool- 

 ing and handling milk, two wooden silos, one v.^agon and implement 

 shed with horse stable and stores. In addition there are a roomy 

 manager's cottage and several smaller cottages for white and coloured 

 employees. 



The farm consists of 900 acres, the greater proportion of which is 

 arable land, utilized for the growing of grain and forage crops for 

 the cattle. There are, however, 22 acres planted to pear trees and 

 15 acres to vines. 



When the farm was taken over, the homestead was remodelled 

 at small expense to form a hostel for students, and as early as the end 

 of August there were in residence there a matron and 25 students. 



The manager's cottage is occupied by a field instructor, who is 

 also the ofiicer responsible for the details of the management of the 

 farm and the discipline of the soldier apprentices. 



