BIAS TO THE LAND

Taranaki Daily News, 12 September 1940, Page 2

BIAS TO THE LAND

SCHOOL AGRICULTURE I COMPETITION PLOTS l Competitions held in connection with the boys and girls' agricultural clubs and in connection with the agricultural work in the primary schools have played an important part in the development of the work and in giving the children a greater interest in the various phases of activity, particularly as the educational rather than the competitive aspect is kept in the foreground. | The competitions cover a wide range, including calf and pig-rearing, beekeeping, growing of potatoes. field roots and ! vegetables, providing interest both for i the country and for the town child and ! inculcating in each a love of nature and ' a bias towards the land, an important factor in Taranaki. which depends for its 'prosperity on primary production, i Arrangements for this year's competitions are well in hand. Mr. W. M. DillMacky. agricultural instructor on the staff of the Taranaki Education Board, has already distributed the seeds, plants and fertiliser for what is known as the i A home garden plots. in which children l of the town schools compete. This year I there are 150 entries in North Taranaki, compared with 110 entries last year. The I garden plot measures 10 feet by 15 feet, and the conditions are that the child grows eight sets of potatoes, six cabbages, I two rows each of lettuce, carrots, turI nips and beetroot. An entry fee of ls is paid by the pupil who receives the I cabbage plants, potato sets, seeds and ! fertiliser necessary free of any further charge. These plots are judged before the Christmas vacation so that children who intend going away for the holidays are able to compete and attend to their plots throughout the whole period. N.ext month seeds and plants will be distributed for the home garden B plots. which comprise an area of 15 feet by 10 feet, on which has to be grown leeks, silver beet, carrots, parsnips and tomatoes. Town and country schools take part in this competition, in which the plots are judged in March. The plot for the field competitions comprises an area 11 yards by 5$ yards, representing one-eightieth of an acre, simplifying the calculation of acreage weight yield. This year there will be trials of two varieties of mangolds, carrots and sugar beet. There is also the potato plot competition for the A. and P. Society's shield, which has been held for several years by the Welbourn school. The competing schools exhibit charts and also table and seed potatoes at the New Plymouth winter show. Demonstration plots are grown at several of the schools as a guide to the children taking part in both the home garden plot and field root competitions.