AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 December 1915, Page 3

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

IXSTRUCTIOX IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS.

At the monthly meeting of the Tara■naki Education Board yesterday, reports of the work done in the various agricultural activities were received as follows:

Mr. J. G. Ellis, agricultural instructor in primary schools, reported that with a -view to bringing the agricultural work of the schools into closer relationship ■with the several societies that existed in the district for the purpose of furthering the interests of agriculture generally, he had, after <>onsultatioii with the inspectors succeeded in forming a small committee, consisting of Messrs F. \V. Sandford (woodwork instructor), N. Day (Central School staff), the inspectors, the chairman and secretary of the Board and also the president and secretary of the Taranaki A. and P. Society. They hoped to be able to induce the teachers and others interested in the school plots to compete in the open classes provided in the schedules of the various agricultural and horticultural societies with produce grown in the school grounds, and-in addition to have a representative aggregated exhibit from all the schools in the district, or from as many of them as would have material worthy of being shown. In this manner it was haped to give zest to the worn done in the schools, and also to bring the result of that work more prominently under the observation of the general public. Another important matter was the fact that for the six weeks of the summer holidays the work was at a standstill in the gardens, whilst the growth (particularly of weeds) was not. In some few cases he had been pleased to And that the teachers or committees, or individual members who were sufficiently interested to render service at this period, with very beneficial results to the crops. As in former years, this would be done, and he had arranged to visit the plots at Stratford, Central and Stanley road, and in some measure keep them in order.

■FARMERS' CLASSES. Mr. Sergei reported that lie had lectured at Durham road, Awatuna, Opunake, Smart road, Upper Mangorei and Beaconsflehl road. H spoke well for farmers when they turned out at this time of the year. What was encouraging from the progressive point of view of agriculture was to see the launching out into new methods by farmers in different centres. There was a distinct keenness to try reasonable experimenting. Looking back, lie thought they could say that their efforts this year had been mainly in the direction of cultural operations, the value of the use of the roller being most emphasised. He rather felt that the necessity of the consolidation of the ground was not sufficiently recognised. Mr. Sergei also reported that he had taken the boys to the Stratford A. and P. Association's Show; where they saw much of Interest and value, especially the exhibition of and keen competition in the Jersey cattle class. There were splendid types of other breeds, too. On the section at Fitzroy they had finished digging the early potatoes, of which the White Rockß proved easily the best, resisting the blight excellently. Their own mixture for manure for potatoes had also shown good results. They had finished hoeing mangold*, eta