SCHOOL AGRICULTURE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 64, 15 November 1915, Page 7

SCHOOL AGRICULTURE.

EDUCATING THE FARMER. A SYSTEM WANTED. The Minister of Education (the Hon J. A. Hauan) and party visited the school agricultural plot in Broadway South on Friday afternoon and Mr Ellis, agricultural instructor, explained the work of the pupils. Mr Ellis said the work of educating the farmer commenced i>t the primary school. It was the duty of the master to teach the boys how to grow two blades of grass where only one was growing at present and to improve the farm generally. To do that the farmer would have to know more about the biology of plant life than he knew at present. The first agricultural lesson at the primary school was • nature study. As instructor he had arranged nature study classes at the different schools.

The Minister said while in each district ho was seeking information for a scheme to carry the education the boy received at school to the man on the land. After learning all he could on the matter he would have a chat with the Minister of Agriculture and see what could be done to further agriculture. Mr Ellis said the children were taught the life history of the plants grown on the experimental plot. The scholars of the agricultural class of the Stratford school were experimenting as to the best kind of mangold to grow. They were also experimenting with different manures. The information gathered eventually got to the man on the land. All the agricultural work had to tend to the dairy industry. Other experiments were being conducted to find the best food for summer feeding. The white turnip was mainly used in Stratford, but it tainted the milk, so the information gained was going to be very valuable. Instruction in agriculture began with the pupils of Standard IV. of the primary school. At the Stratford school the scholars of Standards IV. and V. took agriculture as one of their subjects. The pupils of the <lth Standard took a regular course of agriculture • and conducted experiments inside and out in the held. Notes were taken of all matters under observation.

The Minister asked if lie thought the syllabus of the primary school was a good one. He said he had the matter under observation, and thought that there was a flaw in the system after the pupils had left the primary school. The trouble was in getting the boys to attend the instruction classes. He thought, that the scheme in operation dovetailed. Mr Ellis said he thought there was a gap between the time the boys left the primary and the time if they wished to qualify for the Bachelor of Agriculture degree. Many years ago Sir Robert Stout said that any boy who wished to take a degree should be able to do so without expense. This had been done in nearly every profession, but agriculture had been overlooked. Mr Hanan said ultimately the country would become one of small holdings.

Mr Ellis said that in his opinion agricultural scholarships should be established. Boys taking a rural course could not take a scholarship, and he thought there was something radically wrong. He thought that scholarships should be granted to boys who wished to qualify for the Bachelor of Agriculture degree so they could attend the Lincoln College. The Minister said the Technical Schools should be aided, but while at New Plymouth he noticed that only seven boys were attending the agricultural class. The farmers said they could not spare the boys. Mr Trimble said the class had only been established a year, and he thought that seven pupils was very satisfactory. Mr Ellis said the boys who attended the classes in Stratford were very keen. The Department paid the railway fares for the boys living near the line, but for those who could not travel by train the Department did nothing for. In many cases the boys who wished to attend the classes could not owing to having to travel on the coach, which was very expensive. Mr Trimble said the Department would not pay a single penny of the coach fares, so he thought that the Department was partly to blame. Mr Tyrer said that the pupils of

Standards IV. and V. were carrying oil the work which was necessary to the man on the land. The pupils commenced to grow root crops seven years ago. The instructor of agriculture should advise tho pupils the best crops to grow in poor country. Chemistry lof agriculture, botany, and lessons on weeds were conducted to seek for | this information. The chemistry inj the Stratford district had to tend to dairy science. There was a check in the system insomuch that no scholarships were provided. He was sure that if a farm was established iU ( Stratford he could guarantee not six, but 26 pupils from iiis own school. The boys at the local school were studying chemistry of agriculture and dairy science, and many had passed their senior examinations. It' a farm was established it would lie a great boon to the boys, as they would see new appliances and new machinery.

Mr Hunan asked from what was seen in the district had they any suggestion to make as to what Department the agricultural science should 1)0 controlled by—Agriculture or Education? Mr Ellis replied that he thought tho education of the farmer should be inthe hands of the Educational authorities and not the Agricultural Department. If a dairy school were established it should be under tho Education Department alone. Early in the year he took the boys to the Mouinaliaki Farm, where they were in camp for a week. He took the teachers at a later date. The staff was very courteous and behaved in a right royal fashion. The question was raised if he had examined the commercial side of tho farm. It had been said that the pupils 1 were not gaining sufficient knowlcdgo, in book-keeping. It was stated that the Moumahaki Farm was not an educational institution, but if they were going to instruct the farmers the educational side was also necessary. Mr Masters said the farm was not much use to Taranaki as a whole, as it was too far away. The climatic conditions were different, so that tho knowledge gained there would be of little use to Stratford farmers. He said if a farm for experimental purposes was established near Stratford he would like to see it under the joint control of the two Departments.

Mr Hinc: Under local control. Mr Hanan: Would not it be better under a Board? 'Mr Masters; Very well. The boys would bo able to gain experience at any rate. Mr Hine: What is needed is a commercial farm. It could be worked so that no expense would be thrown on the Department. It could easily be run as a paying concern. Mr Hiue said lie would like to see such farms established in Taranaki. Mi- Masters: Two are needed for Taranaki.

Mr Hiue: Yes. The boys want practical knowledge as well as learning! the commercial side. At Moumahakij when he visited the farm, he wasj shown the crops, but the pupils didi not know what they cost. That was, alright as far as the State was coii-i cerneil, but the farmer could not ex-; pend so much as ihe Government. 11 such a farm as he instanced was es-j tablished the leading farmers of the district would guarantee it would pay.] Mr Masters: If the Government advances the money at 1 per cent. ! Mr Hanan said the main industry j of New Zealand was farming, and on his trip around the Dominion he was; alter gaining knowledge, so that he could work with the other Ministers in arranging a scheme that would be of national value. He wanted to "provide a scheme wherein the fanner would have to use his brain as well as his hands. Other progressive countries were up and doing all they could to educate the farmer as well as the lawyer aud business man. Mr Tyrer said he could promise sixty from the Stratford School if a farming school was erected. If, on the farm it was proposed to establish, the boys did the whole of the work, the farmers in the district would know all that was bein gdone. They would Lake an interest in the work and visit the place periodically. lioys, until they were through their school days, should be under the Education authorities. Mr Hanan asked if the Department of Agriculture was doing anything in regard to agricultural experiments in the Stratford district. It was stated as far as was known nothing was being done. Mr Ellis said probably there were experimental plots in the district. Alter asking a question Mr Hauan said it appeared as if no attempt was being made by the Agricultural Department to educate the farmer, but what was being done was done by the Education Department. Mr Hiue instanced where a farmer used manures aud received good returns from his laud. He said the College, if established, would do the experimenting and the f armor would j know what manures to use without going to the expense of trying different manures. Mr Hanan said though he was from Southland, he was as anxious to see Taranaki go ahead as his own district. The Minister thanked Mr Tyrer and! Mr Ellis for the information they had) conveyed to him. !