MORE VEGETABLES

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3289, 16 July 1943, Page 8

MORE VEGETABLES

NEEDED AS A WAR EFFORT POTATOES AT HIGH SCHOOL AREA ALREADY PLOUGHED UP The urgent need for home vegetable production .as a war effort was brought to the notice of the July meeting of the Paeroa District High School Committee by the following circular letter from the Auckland Education Board when it was agreed to let the area at present ploughed up over at the High School to any person interested in taking a crop of potatoes from same. The Auckland Education Board wrote as under: — “New Zealand is committed to supply vegetables to the Armed Forces in the Pacific theatre of war. We shall have the added responsibility of taking our share in feeding people of liberated countries. These obligations must be fulfilled and will tax to the utmost the productive capacity of commercial gardens. The probable deficiency in supplies for the general public can be met only by increased efforts in the home garden. Home Gardens A public campaign to stimulate the home growing of vegetables is being inaugurated by the Government. This campaign concerns every member of

the community and' the board desires that every school shall undertake an intensified home gardening programme in support of the movement. To implement the school effort the board has formed an organising committee under the chairmanship of the Senior Inspector of schools and including representatives of the school commit- 1 tees and of teachers. School Activities Activities proposed by the committee are as follows:— 1. A pupil’s home garden plot in every home where ground can be obtained. 2. A demonstration plot at , the school. 3. Raising of seedlings for pupils’ home gardens. 4. Raising of seedlings for sale in the district. 5. Demonstration of a "compost heap built according to modern practice. 6. Growing of plants for consumption in school lunches, e.g., lettuce, carrots, cress (for this purpose flower beds and ground not required for this purpose can be used). 7. Growing of a main crop for home consumption, e.g;, beans, carrots, kohl rabi, leqks, potatoes, pumpkins (such a crop may be grown in the school grounds or on other land available in the vicinity). 8. Seed saving.

These proposals are put forward in the hope that one or more may prove applicable in every school. The schemes of work in nature study and science should be amended where necessary to ensure co-ordination with the programme of practical work. Prepare Ground Now ’ The organising committee invites helpful suggestions and co-operation of all concerned will be appreciated. Communications should be addressed to the Supervisor, Manual and Technical Branch, Education Board, Auckland. With the approach of spring immediate action is imperative. Plan—prepare ground—plant. Already you may be doing valuable work in home vegetable gardening. Can you not do more ? This is an “all out” war effort, definitely educational, and you are asked to throw into the movement your maximum resources. After some discussion it was agreed that . Messrs C. C. Webb (chairman) and F. Thorp, be appointed a committee with power to let the ploughed area at the High School for the growing of a- crop of potatoes.