BOYS’ AND GIRLS’ CLUBS.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 June 1921, Page 3

BOYS’ AND GIRLS’ CLUBS.

DISCUSSED BY FARMERS’ UNION. The boys’ and girls’ agricultural clubs in South Taranaki were discussed at yesterday's oneetlng of the executive of the Taranaki Farmers’ Union at Hawera, when various suggestions were brought forward for the improvement of the conditions of the primary schools' root crop growing competitions. Mr. F. Mills suggested that carrots should replace swedes in the competitions. He said swqdes were now becoming such a difficult crop to grow that they were evidently going to pass away in favor of carrots and lucerne. Mr. Betts said that he had distributed 12 packages of swede seeds to certain schools au<l no results had come before the judges iu rhe competitions. Mr. H. Hodge thought that it would be a mistake io exclude swedes from the competitions as there was no doubt about their food value. He would like to see more ireedom given to competitors in the way of selecting whatever seeds and manures they wished. Different kinds of swedes and manures were required for different districts, and he suggested that committees in each district should be set up to jrdvise the competitors as to what kinds of seeds and manures were most suitable to that particular district. Mr. G. H. Buekerldge said that the difficulty in growing swedes showed the necessity of doing something to overcome those difficulties, as there was no doubt about the food value of swedes. As regards the financial side of the clubs, Mr. Buckerldge said the problem of carrying on had been exercising his mind considerably, and it would only be possible to carry on the competitions with the co-operation of the parents of the pupils. It was finally resolved that the root crops in next year's competitions would be mangolds and carrots, swedes being excluded. It was t also resolved that, it be a recommendation to the department that competitors be allow-* ed freedom in selecting seeds and manures.