AGRICULTURAL INSTRUCTION

Taranaki Daily News, 1 March 1917, Page 2

AGRICULTURAL INSTRUCTION

Mr. E. A. Browne, director of agricultural education, reported: fieiier.il.—Mr. Johnson reported for work at Hie, beginning of the school veiu'. School clasps in agriculture, dairy •iViiil;. e;c.: During this month an effort is Mug nvule is gi;t as many country nclnmk as possible to take up this work. !u several cs.scs noted in the past poriions of the {-rounds liave been -set apart by tin- committees i'or garden work, but no class has been rocogni-.rd. We have i'ounil very few case.- ul' unwillingness to lake up tiie work. On the oilier iianil 1 lie instructors have usually been welcomed as soon as file scope mid met hods of instruction have been understood. The following schools liave been visited during the niontli, and at all the children were found keen 011 the v.-urk: Hawera, Kltham, Stratford, I Mokoia, Ohangai, jVleremcre, Tokaova, J ".iaiapu, Kapnni, Kaponga, Oeo, Pihama, i • >|.<timke, Normanby, Denbigh Road, .'did hirst, Tuna, Ingiewood, Durham iload, Tariki, Kofrolk Road, Bird Road, Uakura, Tiitiyrainaika, I'nngareliu, Newell Road. Carrington Road, Frankley Road, Hell Bioek, Fitzroy. The deliiv ill supplying a motor cycle for Mr. Johnson meant that fewer schools were visited than expected.-This has now arrived. I have had several en- . quiries as to the proposed course for teachers at Easter. It is plain already that such course 13 going to meet witii strong support. In a number of casers, instructors liave found schools closed for picnics on date of visit. In future I shall try to arrange for information beforehand as to such holidays. Grass seed collection: A number of schools are taking up this work. Unfortunately wet weather and high winds have left little grass seed to collect. D.11.5. classes: —At Hawera 1!) lads are taking the combined course in agriculture and dairy science, and this foi examination. A good start has been made with Mr. Johnson in charge. At Stratford B.H.S. some 90 youths are taking Agriculture or horticulture and dairy work, also botany, in the secondary classes. All instructors meet- at that- centre on Tuesdays and put in the whole day with scoondary and primary pupils. The work here lias taken some arranging, both as regards classes and instruction, but we arc now well under way. As regards the experimental area at Stratford it- was decided to sow thin ; down in lucerne in December, but ow- | ing to unfavorable weather the preparation of the ground was found impossible. This was done during January, and as the weather was' suitable at the beginning of this month, sowing was done then. Unfortunately it was fount* impossible to get. the rural ,iads to carry out this work as intended. Mr. E. D. Kc-lliher, of Stratford, very kindly filled the breach, taking a very keen personal interest in the success of the work, and giving both time and labor to this end. There is 110 secondary class in agriculture at Eltham DJI.S. this year. Vocational course in agriculture:—At New Plymouth nine lads are available in these classes, and two at Ilawera. I have conferred with instructors and with Mr. Deem, of the Agricultural Department re practical field work for these tads, and it has been decided that the only satisfactory course is to 'give the lads a-week or fortnight as arranged from lime to time at scull work, instead of one or two days per week. Owing to the non-arrival of lads when expected for assistance in December, I find there has been a misunderstanding with the Agricultural Department officials as regards Corbett road work. The proposed alteration will eliminate the possibility of a repetition of this. The trial plots at Corbett road, set out in conjunction with Mr. Deem, are doing well, with several interesting fcaur»n already demonstrated, especially the great advantage in such a season, of early preparation of the soil. The lucerne plot is particularly good. At Fitzroy the crops are looking very well indeed. As soon as the Board lias dealt with my suggestion re. agricultural advisory comittees, I shall get to work 011 the j formation of these, and 011 the development in town and suburban areas, of , instruction in horticulture and orchard work. It is hoped to make an' early start at Fitzroy, working, if possible, 111 conjunction with the school committee. Farmers' classes:—These are getting under way again. Instructional work has been given at Auroa and at Lowgarth, with good attendances for this time of the year. I hope shortly to visit each district supporting such instruction to confer with supporters re ' future developments. COMJIMITTEE'S REPORT. Messrs R. Masters, H. Trimble and E. Dixon, the special committee appoint, ed to report 011 agricultural matters, submitted the following recommendations to the Board:— The committee met Mr. Browne, director of agriculture, Mr. Sergei and Mr. Johnson in • conference. Tliev recommend:—(l) That the BoaVd express a wish that all schools under its jurisdiction take up a course of elementary agriculture; (2) Instruction to teachers: That the Board approve of a fortnight's instruction in nature study and agriculture at Easter to commence 011 the 10th of April, ending 011 the 20th; (3) coemptions: That should any teacher 011 account of distance or other reasons be unable to attend tho- class, application shall be made to the Board for leave of absence not later than March 20. Any school not closed for the. purpose of teachers attending the class must eonl;nuo as usual. Where a school is closed for this purpose each teacher must attend the classes; (4) that the classes be held in New Plymouth; (a) that the Central School be placed at the disposal.of the director of agriculture for the purpose of teachers attending lectures, etc.; (0) that teachers he paia their coach fare, such not to exceed 10s, incurred in travelling to the class; (7) that the director of agriculture be given authority to attend any meeting of committees or advisory hoards controlling any technical school under the Board's jurisdiction. lie, however, shall not have the right to vote on any question before the coniodttees or advisory ; boards; (R) that the director be authorJ iscd to arrange for the formation of j local .committees from contributing | bodies, to be recognised by the i'.oard for j a - purpose of organising and arranging ; agricultural claaaes in different centres, j The director recommends that all I pupils under his control taking a farmI ing course should attend a class each Tuesday at. Stratford. We are not propar 'd to make any recommendations in this dim-'.to.p. until we get further infoi-uation.