WITH THE SCHOOLS

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 142, 18 June 1919, Page 9

WITH THE SCHOOLS

HOW ELEMENTARY AGRICUL-

TURE IS TAjQGHT

Tho teaching of elementary, agricnlture in the public~schools has been freely discussed of late, but it is only from an inspection of the annual exhibits at the Palmerston Show that the public is able to realise just what is being done in this connection. It is not within the scope of this page to discuss the merits or demerits of the agricultural course. That is for experts to decide, but the excellent work done at the schools is evident. Not the least interesting portion of the schools' exhibit in the past has been containing a series of photographs of school gardens, and the results which have been achieved by some of the small country schools must be an eye-opener to city visitors. If the children are taught only to be neat and tidy, if they are taught only to grow vegetables in daily use, then, it is felt, the course has decided advantages.

But the course goes further than that. It teaches, elementary agriculture, paying'due attention, for instance, to the testing of soils, the use of lime, manures, and other fertilisers, the rotation of crops, etc. The experiments, it is shown, are practical as well as theoretical, which indicates that the course is as complete as possible. Of course, there are many competitive classes, and the rivalry they cause goes to make the section valuable as well as interesting. It shows, among many other things, that the scholar attending ■ a public school can, under expert advice and careful tuition, produce just as huge,a turnip as the experienced agriculturists. The schools' section is worth encouraging from mp.ny points of view.