FARMING FOR BOYS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 72, 17 December 1937, Page 14

FARMING FOR BOYS

Napier High School Course Those responsible have long cherished the ideal to provide a modern agriculturai course adapted to the needs of the progressive community of Hawke's Bay. The part played by the applieation of science and experience to industry is well known and to-day its necessity in our fundamental idustry is increasingly evidcnt. The intiniate relationehip between farming and the bo cial structure in New Zealand has made it possible to incorporate an agricultural training into the secondary school syllabus designed too meet the needs of our future statesmen whose heritage it is to maintain farming progrees. After a long struggle the Napier Boys High School became the proud possessor of a farm of 160 acres of easily worked land capable of intensive development. Already it has been largely sown to permanent pasture and subdivided by conerete-post fencing made and erected by boys as an essential part of the course under expcrt supervision. Artesian water assures adequate supply and is laid on to lnnst lields. Already the farm is carrying 100 lloch ewes and about 100 Stud Romnev and Southdown ewes, a small Jersey pedigree herd and purebred Tamworih and Large White sows. In addition the school has its own four-horse team and range of necessary farm implements, a commodious woolshed, sheariug plant, drafting, dipping and foot-rotting yards, dairy, stabie and pigsties. Portion of a students time is speut on the farm (1 week in eight) in addition t.o two periods per week of practical work, as well as time before amd after school. Two-thirds of the students' fichool hours are devoted to a good, sound general education course in eonformity with secondary school regulations. The reniainder of his time in school is dovoted to (a) A i) introduction to general science, principally chemistry and biology, in order to facilitate his understanding of agricultural science. (b) Field husbandry which -is largely built o.n a knowledge of botany and

later develops inlo a study of pasture and crop plants, their requirements, culture, management and the effect of weeds and pests. Soil stndies ana analysis lead on to soil improvers, lime. fertiliser studies and cxpcriments, anil soil fertility and its maintenance. (c) Animal husbandry begins wit'i biology and animal physiology studie.-, which soon evolve into nutrition and feeding of animals, and guarding against and rontrolling disease. Breeds of livestock, their management, points of economic importance and details ot judging are demonstrated on onr own stock. Wool and woolclassing instruction form an integral part of thf course. Practical farm work includes all seasonal work with siieep, cows, pigs, poullry, crops, fencing, draining, tree piautiiig and in addition farnt buildiug construclion and concrete post aua t rough making. Jn well equipped workh'liops boys learn woodwork aud melal work of a type twefwl «* ti* f*rm.~ P.B.A.