THE FARMERS' CARNIVAL.

Evening Post, Volume LXXI, Issue 147, 22 June 1906, Page 2

THE FARMERS' CARNIVAL.

MANAWATU WINTER SHOW. THIRD DAY* THE CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL. . (From Our Special Reporter.) PALMERSTON N., 21st June. Westerly winds in the Palme^ston district are about as forbidding as Wellington's southerly, and just as! deceptive. This morning early the sky was leaden, and there was a light 6hower of rainj by noon it was bright- blue, and half an hour later the atmosphere became bitterly cold, and rain followed. But it takes something more than rain to keep dairy farmers from their Winter Show, - and they came again to-day in fairly large force, followed by troops of gchool children. The Eseoutive of the Manawatu and West Coast Agricultural and Pastoral Association had deoided upon a policy of recognition of the rising generation and a practical encouragement of the movement in favour of giving instruction in elementary agriculture to school children. CONTESTS FOR CHILDREN. With these objecta in view, the association inaugurated a Public School Division in its programme, with horticultural and natural history departments, in which the exhibits had to be the bona fide produce, of and specimens collected by scholars of the competing schools. In the horticulture classes the Kimbolton and Kaiparoro Schools were the only ones which rose to the occasion with collections of garden and farm roots. There was a better show in the natural history section, in which plants and insects ' were included, and for which substantial prizes were offered. The classes included collections, of dried grasses, of injurious New Zealand weeds, and of insects. The competing schools were those of Mongaweka, Awahuri, Ashhurst, Halcombe, Kaiparoro, and Ruahine. A particularly good display of collections of weeds was made, the scholars showing some taste in their arrangement. One school worked out the device "Keep Down Your Weeds" with the specimens. ENTERTAINING INSTRUCTION. In addition to providing competitions, the executive invited scholars of country schools to attend the show free of charge to-day. The children mustered in strong force from not only the Manawatu district, but from schools in the Wellington and Hawkes Bay districts. At U.3Q ft,m., Mr. M.. Murphy, ex- ; 6ecret»ry of the Canterbury A. and P. Association, gave the scholars an interesting and instructive address in the lecture-ball on "Country School Gardens and Horticulture." The Chief Inspector of the Wangauui Education Board (Mr. Braik) occupied the chair, and Mr. Grant (the board's instructor in elementary agriculture) was also present. Before the address was concluded, Mr. Murphy, who succeeded in holding the plpse attention of his audience, had some K)o ' listeners. To-morrow the scholars of the town schools are to be admitted free to the show. During the course of his lecture Mr. Murphy said he knew of no better way of promoting the happiness of everyday life than by going in for gardening. An intelligent observation of the growth of flowers, fruit, and vegetables afforded a fine opportunity of putting into practice the lessons taught in the claeeroom. The lecturer then referred to the love for flowers manifested by the 1 nations of olden time, and to the man- ! ncr in which the art of gardening came to be generally practised over the; whole of Europe.- Coming down to the present day, he lucidly described how new varieties of plants and flowers were produced -by" means of cross-fertilisation, etc. The advantage that would accrue to children if they cultivated, whenever possible, their powers of observation, were touohed upon, and the speak" er strongly urged th«m not to go about the world with their eyes shut, like dumb animals, but to carefully look into all the wonderful processes of nature which were going on everywhere around. The manner in which plants were produced by grafting and bndding was next described, several diagrams being brought into. use to make these points plainer. Mr. > Murphy urged scholars to endeavour to learn all that was possible about these things. Theory was all very well, but it was essential that some practical work should be put in. This could be managed by having school gardens. He spoke of what was being done in Germany and other lands in this direction. Most satisfactory results had been obtained in many ways. The memory had been found to be improved by children having to put into practice in their gardens* the lessons they had learned in the school. A knowledge of these things also tended to make the boys and girls more cheerful, more intelligent, and more happy. He then urged that something more along these lines should be done in New Zealand. The gardening should be made part' of the' ordinary school curriculum, so that due attention could be paid to it without trouble. Room for this should be mode by cutting out other subjects of lesser importance. He was glad to note that the desirability of .effecting some reform was being recognised by the Educatiou Boards. If the colony was to hold its own, it mast follow the lead of : those countries where great attention was being paid to such subjects. A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Murphy for his instructive addre». ' * GENERAL. In an inconspicuous corner of the horticultural annexe is a valuable collection of fungus diseases and pests in potatoes. The potatoes which have been attacked are shown bottled in spirits, and are exhibited by the biological section of the Agricultural Department. Another interesting exhibition is the display of roots from the 'Momohaki Stote Farm. * The New Zealand Twentieth Century Gaa Company shines conspicuously up hero with its several displays of its up-to-date illuminant, whion is not only seen in the company's special bay, over which the managing director (Mr. J. R. Patterson, of Wellington) presides, hut also is used for lighting purposes in the commodious dining-room. The company has effeotod the sale of several plants during this week's seaion. The grounds had something of the appearance of a fair this afternoon, there being phonographs, a character-reader, a peripatetic photographer, a biograph, strong men, a small ciroua, a merry-go-round, and a local band. The crowd was exceptionally large on the grounds and in the halls. CHAMPION BIRDB. Following is the list of, birds which, were awarded championship honours in the show: — Langshans, special, best cockerel, -Mrs, E. >H. Holland. Pry T month Rocks, best male bird, W. A. Sowmon; best female, Jos. King. Orpingtons, best, black cockerel, G. R. Hutcbiaaon; best hen, A. H. Guthrie; best buff cockerel, F. B. Lovelock; best hen, E.- Leighton. Minorcas, best cockerel, J. H. Manttan. Leghorns, white, best cockerel, E. H. Holland; best hen, G. R. Attwood. Lcghoroa, brown, best cockerel, G. H. Holland; best hen, G. Leitjchi ■AndainfUni Jl be** bird, F.

Goodacro. Gamo, best bird, J. T. Sinclair. Ducks, best drake, W. A. Sowman; best duck, S. Avery. Pigeons, fancy, best bird, J. Noble; homers, L. J. Verry. Canaries, best bird, D. Murphy; best ticket buff Norwich, D. Murphy; best Norwich cock, Miss G. Whalley. Mr. T. J. Leighton, of Wellington, who judged the homing pigeons, said they were the best lot of birds he t hod ever seen, the flying classes being partioularly good.Tn addition to those poultry champion honours already forwarded, the following special prizes were awarded in the Wyandotte classes : — White Wyandottes, president's (Mr. G. R. Hutchinson's) plate, R. S. Vile^ Golden Wyandotte, club's special for best male' Bird, C. E. Hood; Mr. H. S. iMunro's special for the best bird of 1 opposite sex, R. J. Mead; Silver Wyandotj^ea, club's special for best bird, J. D. Jrsmonger; Mr. V. Barker's special gold medal for best of opposite mx, R.. 0. .King;, Partridge Wyandotte, club's v Speciftl £3 for best bird, J. Jarvis ; special trophy best white cockerel, R. G. Vile; special trophy for best white hen, C. Daryell. ' In pigeons the fantail championship was won by Gardiner and Son, and, in the ..frill classes, by J. Noble. The North Island championship was won by J. H. Hopkins for 'Minorcas.