TEACHING YOUTH

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20056, 30 September 1939, Page 11

TEACHING YOUTH

FARM WORK AT SCHOOL

FARMERS’ UNION INTEREST

EFFORTS OF PUPILS

“APPROACH TO FARMING”

Recently a visit was paid to the Gisborne High School agricultural area by representative;; of the . Fanners’ Union.

It was pointed out by the agricultural master, Mr. G. Thorp, that the area was an attempt at a compromise ' between the expensive school farm on the cac hand and garden plots on the other, its chief purpose being to provide the common farm plants and animals as a elf-contained unit for instruction, not in farming but j.i the scientific approach to farming. Pleasure was expressed by the visitors in viewing the latest development on the area in the form of a plantation of native and exotic timber trees and shrubs, and several valuable suggestions for additional planting were brought forward. Pasture Species. In passing to the next section, the plots of pasture species and strains, 48 in all, attention was immediately focussed on the marked strain differences showing particularly in the ryegrasses, the white and the red clovers, the cocksfoots, and the subterranean clovers. The wonderful winter growth of the phalaris tuberose plot led attention to the paddock in which this' species had been sown with alternative companions in the form of white clover and ’subterranean clover. The green oats growing on the cropping section, and being feci to the milking cows was regarded as good evidence of how luscious early spring feed can be provided, even on light soil and after a hard winter. It was particularly pleasing to note on the permanent pasture paddocks, which next came under review, the well-made gates'and troughs, the work of the agricultural boys in their woodwork classes, and the ability of the gates to swing showed that successful efforts had been made in the metalwork classes. Which Mixtures? Which is the best mixture of pasture species to sow? Which is the better, a simple mixture or a complex mixture? These were questions which sprang from interest in the 'permanent pasture paddocks laid down 3.'. years ago, each of the four paddocks being sown to a different mixture, one of them complex, the others simple. The simple ryegrass while clover pasture seemed, though heavily grazed, to have pride of place, it being realised, however, that such place -might not be held la'ter in the season or over the year as a whole. Adequate provision in the form of lucerne and of prairie grass for periods of pasture scarcity was highly commended, the rapid recovery of the prairie gra. after its winter cut being especially co. anented upon.

The donated flock seems to have enabled "experts” among the pupils to prove to their more or less sceptical confreres that they can dag, foot-rot, crutch, toil and shear with the East Coast’s best. Development Work The major 1 developmental work on the area now having been completed, it was interesting lo hear of the extern to .which that work had been undertaken and assisted in by the pupils of the agricultural course as indicated by the following activities: The shifting and reconditioning of an old shed to serve as a milking shod: the laying of a concrete floor and drain for the shod; the laying of water-pipes throughout the area; the subdivision fencing; the cultivation for and sowing of permanent pasture and permanent crops: the planting of trees. Before leaving, the visitors expressed their thanks for being shown around, commended the work being undertaken, and hoped the agricultural course would be given the great measure of support of which it is worthy.