STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 October 1916, Page 3

STRATFORD.

AGRICULTURAL INSTRUCTION, (From Our Own Correspondent,) Saturday, October 28. At the Technical School on Saturday, Mr R. A. Browne, Chief Agricultural Instructor under the Taranahi Education Hoard, addressed the school teachers, probationers, etc. Although the morning was cold and cheerless, there were between sixty and seventy present.. The instructor stated that the "Education Board had agreed to hu scVeme already published in the Daily Mews. He outlined what he thought would be the initial stages of the agricultural work. Boys and girls could bo made acquainted with the work in a variety of ways. Boys, particularly, took a keen interest in anything that appealed to the eye. Every child had the instinct of the animal, but very often the wrong lines were taken in teaching children. A daily routine of set studies did not appeal to the scholar. If teachers could occasionally take their pupils to the riverside, they would obtain lar better results, in 'i'aranaki they could find streams, swamps, etc., that would assist in this direction. It was necessary that the teachers should possess as much knowledge of argiculture as others, and he thought a courss of instruction could be held in every centre throughout the province. He suggested that the teachers should perhaps set aside a week or a fortnight in the year, and devote this ta oyricultural instruction, and the time would be well spent. At Hawcra they had put in a lortnight stiuTying agriculture, and it had worked very well. With the children-, instead of collecting huslt plants, they could instruct the scholars on grasses and clovers. He did not believe in "swatting" up, but if they explained to the child the value of fertilisers, showing the effect Oil a sward, and how the fertiliser would destroy weeds, the work must be classed a s useful. Boys were observant, and if they could he approached' in a. proper (spirit would secure double and treble value. The weakness in the past had been in the. teachers not having a very intimate knowledge of agriculture, and this naturally curtailed the value of the instructor's work. He did not intend to l'.y out a programme of work just now. They cou"(T very well leave the matter for the time to the instructor*. Quite a number o'f boys came to the Instructors who had had no practical demonstration. Scholars had not been able to use their tongue or eyes, but these disadvantages would disappear in the pushing on of the work. There was not a thing lie had to teach the farmer that could not be tackled by the scholar. The instructor then detailed the value of observation in orchard as in the rose garden, etc. Mr. Browne n::;t referred to the question of experimenting with growths of potatoes, carrots, mangolds, etc. He preferred that if they made any experiments', they should make half-a-dozen plots of the one root crop, and try the value of various fertilisers, /

In reply to a question, Mr, Browne I said, on a recent visit to a 'arm, the boys took a great interest in the dressing of pastures, etc., but when he came to the orchard and pruning the lads were particularly interested, and used their eyes to the best purpose He drew attention to the value of loose -and firm soil. Every child should know the value of every common grass. Prairie grass was a winter grass, and rye was an early autumn growth. At Maneia they had observation works ns to waterlevels in wells, and good results were obtained. He thought rain glasses, thermometers, etc., should be in every school. He had been asked a-Question yesterday. A man wanted prairie gross, but he (the instructor) had to tell .the farmer that the grass he wished was not going to give feed at the time desired. Up to hay-making rve was an excellent grass, but for the autumn cocksfoot was better. The farmer, however, had neglected this variety. This knowledge was useful to teachers, and if the scholars were observant they could tell the farmers the tiarticular grass that would benefit from the soil in the locality. With regard to orchards, the instructors should take control, but should allow the scholars to undertake the v.ork, which they would find most interesting. They would also be able +o observe the seasons of the year in the growth and development of fruit. The same applied to the grass feed, and this would be of great value to the man on tlie land. He believed in each school ground having an orchard, grass plots, and then the root growths. A large amount of money was being lost each year through neglect to collect seed. Unless they were particularly cartful, they would find a great preponderance of weeds. After cropping in' order to keep the ground firm, and to save work, turnips should be sown broadcast. These would smother the ground, and help to keep it clear of weeds. Regarding the dosing of the school for a fortnight to allow of africuTtural instruction, he believed the best time of the year would bj in the autumn, before the ground became too cold. He thought February would be the best month, or about' Easter. If they met in June, it was rather late, but' it was an admirable time, as the growth was complete, and they could see the results ot the different fertiliser?. It was awkward for the lady teachers to move around. They could not ask the Department for twj holidays for the purpose, and he thought that the autumn (about Easter), was the most suitable period. At the conclusion of the lecture it j was resolved to meet in fortnightlv classes, and that Mr. Brown approach the Education Board, with a v ; ew to allowing teachers a fortnight in the autumn (or Easter) to study agriculture. FARMERS' UXION. A mtVting of the Stratford brancn of the Farmers' Union was lHd on Saturday afternoon. Mr. K. MeK. Morlson occupied tne chair, and introduced to the members tile new Agricultural Instructor (Mr. R. A. Browne) who briefly outlined the purposes of instructors, and mentioned that it would cost farmers approximately 10s. each towards payment of instructors. At first it was intended that the instructors should deliver lectures, but now they would give practical demonstrations of farm work. He was pleased that the Daily News and Hawcra Star had recognised the value of their work to the farmer, and would give them every assistance in nublicity. An informal discussion ensued, arid the meeting adjourned till a future data. CE.XERAI* The weather this week lias been of the most varied description. Monday and Thursday were good, but the least a "'d about tha other days constituting