SAVING OF SOIL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 170, 20 October 1941, Page 6

SAVING OF SOIL

LAND CONSERVATION

TEACHING OF CHILDREN

Contributors to "The New Zealand Education Gazette" are helping appreciably in the campaign for soilsaving. In a recent issue, Mr L. W. McCaskill stresses the importance of conserA'ation lessons for school chi.lt dren. "A teacher," he Avrites, "has suggested as a simple definition of conserA'ation, 'a Avise application of the results of true nalure study.' The suitability of such a definition is obA'ious Avhen we consider the problems of the conserA'ation of vegetation in New Zealand.

& "We cannot understand the major problems affecting forestry without un understanding of the structure and life history of the individual trees —we cannot discuss intelligently the conservation of tussock or other grasslands unless Ave are familiar Avith the characteristics of the individual tussocks, grasses, clovers and other plants in the various communities. "Even the infant classes can accurately observe trees and grasses and learn to identify the commoner ones nt all seasons. "By means of a properly graduated course it is possible for pupilsentering Form 1 to be suitably equipped for a study of the problems r,l the conservation of forestry and grassland."