AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 December 1917, Page 7

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

W6R£ in taranaki district. DIRECTOR'S REPORT. The following repprt was submitted by the director of agricultural education at yesterday's meeting of the Education Board:— I attendod a meeting of the Bawera Technical College Committee on Tuesday, 11th inst. There seems to be a good deal of misapprehension ro the scope cf instruction in agriculture, and as regards the possibility of harmonious working. There is no difficulty in connection with the district high schools, and should be none at fi!e Technical College. It might | be desirable to place on record the scope of work in each of our main courses.

I (a) School classes in agriculture and [dairy work (Standards 4, 5 and 0): —In these the main aim is the inculcation of (I) intelligent and interested observation I and noting the local flora and fauna, also local farming and garden methods, and experiences. (2.) Simple manuriai and other experiments dealing with growth of | grasses, clovers, garden and farm roots, etc. (3) Beautifying and keeping tidy all school surroundings. The general aim is to arouse interest | ir! rural topics and to inculcate a pridein one's school and district. This school course should lead to either.

(b) Technical college course where the work becomes more vocational in character, aud the lads get practical instruction in dairy factory work, ploughing and ordinary farm tillage operations, shearing, veterinary work, orchard work of pruning and spraying, etc., etc., in season.

A great deal of this work will in future be taken in conjunction with the Agricultural Department, and lads desiring to proceed further along these lines would naturally continue such instruction at Moumahaki, Ruakura or Weraroa Central Development Farm where such is provided for. Hand in hand with such work must go science work in agricultural chemistry, agricultural botany, dairy science, etc. Long experience in farms and with farmers has proved the overwhelming importance of this section. The great desire among farmers is to have a working knowledge of the action and reaction of soil and manures, of pas»re components, and the reasons for variations in operations in preparing various types of soil for the various cropß grown. Agriculture is a science, not merely a variety of arts or handicrafts. (c) The primary course may, however, lead to a district high school or technical high school course. This is divided into two sections. (1) Examination course with indoor and outdoor experimental work, leading in the past to Civil Service Senior, and now to Junior Civil Service ancT matriculation examinations. Youths taking the course may continue their studies at the courses provided at Weraroa Central Development Farm and Lincoln College, taking a <3egrce as B.Ag. (2) Rural course: This embraces all the work taken in above, and in addition as much as possible of the work enumerated under (b) as for technical college pupils, also working with the Agricultural Department wherever possible. (d) Horticulture and experimental orchard work: This section has been fully dealt with in previous reports at the time of the organisation of the highly successful local classes. In addition to the adults of both sexes at present supporting such work, I should like to see the senior girls in our high and district high schools and technical colleges take an interest in this more vocational section. It means that a most pleasant anjl profitable profession is open to the trained woman, whether she puts her knowledge 1 to account now, or later on in life. (e) Instruction to farmers: This work is only of temporary importance and no doubt" will finally be taken over by the Agricultural Department, in whose realm it is, or should be. There has been noticeable a tendency to decry such instruction, but only where the methods of instruction are not known. I can safely sav that a ereat deal of good has been, and ia being done, judging of e< riant personal testimony and increased results. Tbe world war, and the con-1 sequent marcity, and indeed impossibility of obtaining manures has greatly checked this work, which can be summarised as correct mixing and application of manures to crops, in relation to soil andi climate. :

Conclusion; In the past our greatest/ successes in agricultural instruction were obtained along the lines of short courses in dairy factory work, shearing, woolsorting, farm tillage operations, veterinary work, and orchard work. Unfortunately, owing chiefly to changes due to the reorganisation of the district high school classes, this work has been during the past season of less extent than for many years past. AGRICULTURAL INSTRUCTION. The following report for the period ended December 14, IS>l7, was submitted: Mr. Burley took up his duties on the Ist December. So far he is finding his time fully occupied in making arrangements to begin work well next year at the various centres. Work has begun in connection with the Stratford model farm in herd testing, and assisting in connection with farm work variety trials. Squads of lads also began whitewashing the shed and yards. Next season a very much increased share will be taken in connection with the farm operations. Routine work of instruction has continued since last report, sueli work now being completed for the year. Farmers' classes wore held at Auroa, Pihama (afternoon and evening), Patua and Normanby. Orchard classes (summer pruning) were held at Inglewood and New Plymouth. Schools visited were: Central (4), Kopongu, Pihama (grounds), Egmont Village, Kaimata, Tarata, Ngaere, Finnerty, Mahoe, Rowan, Makaka, Pembroke, Waiongona, Durham, Radnor, Stanley, Midhirst, Tariki, Whangamomona, Cardiff, Kohuratahi, Hawera, Toko and Stratford. Mr. Howell singles out the work done at Mahoe, Stanley and Ngaere, also refers to the good work done at Whangatnomona, Seeds of native trees planted at Stratford have germinrfed well ho free distribution later on will be possible. Mr. Howell reports receipt of seeds from Mr. Trimlble and from the eurator of King Edward Park, Kawera. At the Central School a variety of mangels, carrots, swedes and turnips has been sown, also lucerne. The rose cuttings put in la?„t winter are doing well here, and will form the basis of a good collection as well as for distribution later on.