BOYS' AGRICULTURAL CLUBS

Taranaki Daily News, 1 March 1920, Page 6

BOYS' AGRICULTURAL CLUBS

AN AID TO PRODUCTION By Telegraph.—l J ress Association. Wellington, Feb. 2S Mr. Stuart Wilson, emphasising the importance of the scheme put forward for establishing boys' agricultural ciulis, points to the continued fall in production disclosed by figures recently published- Tlite Government Statistician has called attention to a reduction of nearly 800,000 in the flocks of'the Dominion. The principal exports show a decline in quantity, which is, however, disguised by the' hisf- prices ruling. The yield per acre of the chief crops has tended downwards during tlie past ten years, as shown by the following figures. In the ten year period ISIOB to litis the production' of wheat declined from 33.7!) bushels to 24.23 per acre, oats from 40.-K to 31.04, barley from 3!\i67 to 80.IS and potatoes from 0..12 tons to 4.3S tons per acre. There nave been seasonal fluctuations, but the tendency lias been steadily downwards. The figures have a grave significance for the country. The Boys' Agricultural Clubs scheme, which lias been warmly approved by prominent people, offers a practical means of increasing production liy encouraging young men, the farmers of the future, to study and practice the best and most modern methods of raising stock and crops. The scheme has been successful in the United States Mr. Wilson urged that the Agricultural Department should organise the scheme, which should be pushed in the North Island.