AN “AGRICULTURAL BIAS”

Evening Star, Issue 20587, 12 September 1930, Page 1

AN “AGRICULTURAL BIAS”

NOVEL EXAMINATION PAPER AVc note from Press reports (states a lively contributor to a Hawke’s Bay contemporary) that the Education Committee of the House of Representatives has recommended that our education system be given a definite and distinct “ bias ” towards agriculture. AVe arc not aware of the methods to bo adopted' to give that “ bias,” but wo recognise that something practical is necessary. AVe therefore submit a list of a, few “practical” examination questions which we feel sure might well grace tho examination papers of tho future: — i ARITHMETIC. If a cow 7 has 4 legs, how many legs have 21 cows? If A can milk a cow in 7 minutes, B in 10 minutes, and C in 12 minutes, how long will it take the three of-them, milking together, to milk one cow? If the roots of a large tree cover all the area within a radius of 10yds of tho centre of the tree, find the square root of'the tree. A fanner has 1,764 sheep distributed over the wdiolo of Ids farm, 2J sheep being allotted to an acre. Find the area of the farm. On a farm there are 898 sheep, 7 goats, 10 horses, 39 cows, 4 turkeys, 6 roosters, 41 lions, and .10 men, women, and children. State (a) the total number of logs on the farm, and (b) the average number of legs per man, bird, or beast (correct to three places of decimals). If a dog can run a mile in 3 minutes and a cow in 5. minutes, how long would it take the dog to head the cow 7 if they both set off at the same time, the cow having half a mile start. Supposing that the cow set out to meet the dog, state (a) when, (b) where they would meet. A farmer sells his milk to a dealer at Is 8d per gallon. If tho dealer adds 1 gallon of water to 10 gallons of milk, what profit per cent, does the dealer obtain by selling at 8d a quart? Tho volume of a cylinder is ascertained by the formula pi x radius (squared) vl height. If pi is 3 1-7, find the volume of a milk can 13in in diameter and 2ft 6in in height. ENGLISH AND GENERAL KNOWLEDGE.

AVbafc is the meaning of (a) “ Make hay while the sun shines,” (b) “ .Ploughing a lonely furrow,” (c) “ A harrowing task,” (d) “ Calf love,” (e) “ Tho farmer’s lot,” (f) “ A hard row to hoe ” ? Explain the following terms:—Farmer, squatter, cockic, cow-cockie, hayseed. AVrite an essay on any one of the following subjects:— (1) Winter on the farm, or (2) The pleasures of early rising, or ’ (.3) A neighbourly solitude, or (4) Farm labour. Toll what you know about mortgage. Explain the difference between a first mortgage and a fourth mortgage. Do you know anything about land for settlement?? Explain, if you can, how to become a successful farmer without capital. (Note: You may use .your note books for this question, as it has never yet been satisfactorily answered.) AVhat is meant by the expressions, “ Working for tho mortgagee ” and “ An order on the milk cheque ”? What is (a) land tax, and (b) income tax? Explain why farmers should paV both. Give a list of all the taxes a farmer has to pay. In the following lines underline the appropriate adjective, adverb, or noun;— Farmers are critical cheerful captious contented. Farmers are always for against the Government. Farmers buy limousines, flivvers gigs. Farming is easy hard delightful monotonous. Farmers’ profits are large small nil. DRAAVING AND PAINTING. Draw the plan and elevation of a pig trough. AVhat colour would you paint (a) cow-bails, (b) stables, (c) dog kennels? Give reasons. PHYSIOLOGY AND HYGIENE. (a) Explain, with diagrams, “ The farmer is the backbone of the country.” (b) Give a simple remedy for (1) chilblains, (2) milker’s rash, (3) dirty fingernails. (c) Describe the symptoms of a nervous cow. - (d) Give a synopsis of the complaint known as “ land hunger.” , ' DOMESTIC SCIENCE. (a) Describe the effects of rough cooking. (h Give an approximate recipe for plum-duff. (c) Discuss', the calories and vitamines in a turnip. (d) Explain the different stitches used (1) in seeing a patch on corduroy, trousers, (2) in mending a rip in a pair of dungareo overalls, (3) m sewing up a., sack of potatoes. (e) From the materials supplied, cut out and make a lady’s milking cap. (f) Is the adage “ Father’s pants will soon fit AVillio ” more applicable to country life than to town life? Give reasons for your answer. VERY ELEMENTARY SCIENCE. (a) AVhat is known as dirty milk? How much dirt is allowed to the gallon before the milk is officially regarded as dirty ? ( (b) Given equal quantities of mud, milk, and slush, state a simple method of determining the amount of water in each. (c) What effect (if any) has water on (1) the quality, (2) the quantity of milk? (d) Explain the usual differences between farm butter and factory butter. (e) AVhy are there mites in cheese? What chemical action has taken place when cheese is crawling? (f) Give tho chemical re-agent for sour milk. „ (g) It is said of sheep that “everything is utilised but the bleat.” Discuss this, and suggest a possible method of utilising tho bleat.