SCHOOL GARDEN COMPETITIONS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3076, 22 December 1908, Page 5

SCHOOL GARDEN COMPETITIONS.

a vin p OF MASTERTON" A.; «•

ASSOCIATibK;'

AWARDS MADE

On Saturday the judging school garden plots entered in competitions of the Masterton A- a.HdJ'A P. Association was completed, judges, Messrs C. F. Vallance ji A. B. Wood, taking three days in carrying out their task. Entries came from six different schools from all parts of the district, and as a i good deal of ground had to be covered, Mr Vallance brought his motor 3 car into service for the convenience 1 of himself and Mr Wood. (

There were three distinct competitions, the first being for the best plot in any school. In allocating the marks, the judges were guided by the following conditions:—(a) General appearance of plot, staightness of rows, freedom from weeds,, condition of soil, 30 marks; (b) quality and quantity of vegetables, 20;. (c) adverse circumstances — e.g., poorness of soil, absence of water, exposed situation, 10; (c!) educational value of work done, 20; (e) condition of tools, 20. Entries were made by the Rongokokako, Matahiwi, Fernridge, Taueru, Kaiparoro and Ihuraua schools, and the results were respectively as follow: Rongokokako, No. 1 plot, 30, 10, 10, 20, 20; total, 90.

Matahiwi, No. 3 plot—3o, 20, 0, 18, 20; total, 88. Matahiwi, No. 2 plot— 30, 20, 0, 16, 20; total, 86. The second competition was for the best garden, points being awarded on general lines. Matahiwi was adjudged first, Rogokokako second, and Taueru third.

A separate competition waa held for the best plot in the Masterton School garden by itself. Marks were allotted on the following basis:- (a) General appearance of plot, straightness of rows, freedom from weeds, condition of snil, 35, (b) quality and " variety of vegetables, 35; educational value of work done, 30. Twenty plots were entered, and the awards were respectively as follow : Plot 20-20, 16, 16; total, 52. Plot 15-20, 15, 15; total, 50. Plot 4—15, 15, 10; total, 40. The judges were exceedingly pleased with the work of the scholars, Mr Wood, who has seen some of the best experimental gardens in England, being greatly impressed and especially with the Rongokokako garden. Absence of weed** was found to be a very pleasing feature of the gardens.