AGRICULTURAL CLUBS

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24985, 20 September 1946, Page 10

AGRICULTURAL CLUBS

5445 PROJECTS LAST SEASON

Boys’ and Girls’ Agricultural Club members in schools of the Canterbury Education Board entered 5445 projects in competitions last season, and 4394 of them were completed. A total of 3859 of the entries were crops, and 1586 were stock.

Project entries were as follows: calf-rearing, 635; lamb rearing, 673; chicken rearing, 250; poultry raising, 24; pig raising, 4; potatoes, 156; other single crops, 101; kitchen gardens, 2697; flower gardens, 905. Commenting on the decrease in entries from 6374 in the previous year to 5445, Mr S. A. La Roche, chief agricultural instructor, said snow, heavy rain, late frosts, sickness among pupils and restrictions during the threat of an infantile paralysis epedemic, all upset organisation. The scheme for securing bobby calves (with good production backing) for club members, especially in non-dairying districts, was developed with the co-operation of bobby calf pools, transport operators, and dairy farmers. About 80 of these calves were distributed during the season.

“In spite of all difficulties, there is cause for satisfaction in the season's results,” said Mr La Roche. “There has been no diminution in the vitality of the movement anywhere, and interest and enthusiasm have been as encouraging as ever.”