THE STUDY OF GRASSLAND IN SCHOOL WORK

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 73, 20 December 1918, Page 8

THE STUDY OF GRASSLAND IN SCHOOL WORK

r; A. H. Cockayne, biologist, writes t iutoresrtingly in Hid issue of the irnal of Agriculture" on the fine op.rinities grass lands offer, the teacher ' lias to do with agricultural matters, says, inter alia, truly enough: "They fd ample, and readily-accessible ma-, il of all descriptions. Their study ly embraces the whole farm prac- ; as -without a good bowing acqunint- ■ with the agriculture of any district p-as3 land cannot be intelligently extied. Grass land.material,' again, can nade use of for teaching purposes at itimes .of the- year, as it is essen-ly-a-continuous crop. In order, to mie at all acquainted with the com-, tion and habit of grass land'associas they must be under observation the le year. The following are merely [cstions as to how grans land may I>3 j as teaching material in the countschool and the district high school. l'e of them may not fit in with ihe.oriry school work, but certain phases least should be given prominence in i agricultural course. Identification of all Plants Comprising ssland — Two methods of identifica- : are really necessary. To begin with, pupil should learn at sight tho main ?tituents. When this \v done ho aid be taught by means of keys to riminate between different species by racier examination. Such keys can be ■ly made by tho teacher, audi should as simple as possible. The usa of s will ba found invaluable in properly •.lung the necessary lerpiinolofry. T<rLology by definition alone is quite leless, but terminology by application ! magnificent trailing for aiiy boy or '.--In learning the various species of !ch grassland is composed care should itaken to remember that those most ndant are the iniDorfruit ones*lo know, iremely rare plants, on the other hand, d-Jiot be bothered with, for unless y represent plants formerly abundant, likely to be abundant in the future, y play no.part. It is important to rn to identify and discriminate beien different plants in all stages of ir development. Study of the Individual Habits of the feront Species.—This is known, as 'analogy,' and deals with the whole of ■ relations'of the plant lo its habitat or wing-place.- Only certain phases easily 'ght should be attempted, such as roof- ! habit, growth form, method of, reduction, times nf flowering, duration, id, and palatability. Study of the Combinations and Fabits the. Associations.—This is ternied'synopgy,' and tile relation and effect of nt on plant should bo studied; and the abinations that exist under certain conions, together with Hie factors that i to dominance and suppression, should 'determined. Various phases in-suc-tion come in here, but must also be 'ght with full reference to the reaciis due, to various types 1 utilisation. The Relation of Grassland lo Grassid Supnlcmfntary Crops.—The sou lulls or otherwise of growing different supnienlary crops, and their effect or. the. f erse in maintaining full earning power grassland, should be taught using grasses of the district as example*. Crop dotations from the Grassland .ndpoint.—Tlio brenking-in of various >es of vegetation ._ into irrassland, anil ! various rotation's developing certain ies of irassland, sucli a" temporary ?rt-rotation and long-rotation pastures, mid be dealt with. The farm mann?ent nf the district wiH provide amnle iter's], which should ly carefully eornted with practical utility. 'Seed-te.stini and Germinah.—This provides very Wfnl work, cf;inlly pnrmirntion. a? if aives to")o fa of the early development of Hie int. Much farm work i« inlimafeh' in«cted with the earlv development of inKs, iiid this phaso is iinnorfant. T"o icli time, hnwp'-er. should rot.be doted to -seed-testing pure nnd siim>'<\ frely to test t)"> viability of scdi--. iwctienlly. sord-tp=fins is important f<) a farmer, but it is onlv so w'">n '<e jws and sows hi* own s<>ed=. To fhe 'd merchant, of course, t.hn testi""- f nr ibility nnd purity is "«sential, and that igenerallv recognised.'' ' I .