Farm Institutes. 



609 



FARM INSTITUTES. 

 PAET III. 



This article concludes the summary of the training pro- 

 vided at the Farm Institutes ivhich have been established in 

 this country. The tico previous articles, dealing loith eight 

 of the Institutes, appeared in the August and September 

 issues of the Journal. The account below refers to the 

 Institutes establisJied in Ilertfordshire, Staffordshire, Mon- 

 mouthshire and Carnarvonshire. 



HERTFORDSHIRE AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTE.— 



The Oaklands Park Estate of 335 acres, comprising a mansion 

 house, offices, gardens and grounds, and the home farm, was 

 acquired by the Hertfordshire County Council in 1919 for the 

 purposes of a residential Farm Institute. The Institute is 

 situated 2 miles from St. Albans, is fitted up with a recreation 

 room, laboratory, lecture room, library and museum, and has 

 accommodation for 30 resident students (20 male and 10 female). 

 Mr. J. B. Hunter-Smith, B.Sc, is Principal of the Institute and 

 Agricultural Organiser for the County. 



Instruction is provided for pupils of both sexes in the science 

 and practice of agriculture, dairying and horticulture. The 

 instruction aims at showing students how to make a living out 

 of farming. Residential students are required under proper 

 supervision to take part in all seasonal work on the farm, with 

 the stock, or in the dairy or gardens. Trials are conducted with 

 different crops, manures and methods of cultivation, and an 

 endeavour is made to test different systems of farming. Experi- 

 ments and demonstrations on economic lines are also arranged 

 at various centres in the county. Detailed records are kept of 

 the production and cost of crops, meat, milk, etc., the results 

 and statistics being published. 



Lectures and short courses of instruction for farmers and 

 farmers' sons are held at the Institute and at suitable centres in 

 the county. These are supplemented by demonstrations and 

 advisory visits. 



The Farm. — The farm consists of about BOO acres of typical 

 Hertfordshire h.nd. of which 160 acres are arable. 100 acres 

 grass, and the rest woodlands and gardens. A herd of 20 Dairy 

 Shorthorns is maintained and the live stock also includes two 

 breeds of pediojree pigs and ewes for crossing for early lamb 

 production. A special feature will be made of baby beef pro- 

 duction. The farm equipment includes a silo. 



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