AFFORESTATION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 3 July 1924, Page 5

AFFORESTATION.

WORK IN SCHOOLS. AN INTERESTING STUDY. An interesting illustration of the valuable instruction in forestry and nature study- which is being given in some of the provincial primary schools is afforded in the display presented by the exhibits in the afforestation shield competition at the Winter Show. The display evidences the keen interest which the/ school'’ pupils are talcing ,in.; .1 this branch of their school instruction, and has been the subject of much favourable comment by visitors to the show. The competition, which is open to all primary schools in the Taranaki Educatioii -Board’s district, provides that each school entering must raise- at least 2no seedling plants of two or more varieties of useful timber trees, each school being -required to exhibit-'speci-mens of the iseedling plant of each variet\ laised, together with full notes giving an account of all stages of the work during the raising of the plant, and notes on the growth and uses of six native timber trees or an essay on Arbor Day, as well as a general" display - " of any work that has. a bearing o'n afforestation. * Ar' aS n n o UgUratet * 0,1 ie suggestion ot Mr. R, Syme, one of the Taranaki ■i°+ ld vv lllst l r . uct( ? rs 111 agricultural 'sub,l c s, the objective being to encourage a greater appreciation throughout the -schools of the value and importance of New Zealand timbers and of the necessity for re-aftorestation work. Messrs , value” 1 CO ” r wll ° r^a,is€ d tlie \ alue of this phase of instruction -have a s l uel <l which is to he competed for annually in accordance with the terms given above. The Government Forestry Department has also donated 100 seedling plants' to the' * successful school. .The shield, which is a particularly handsome trophy, j s one ‘ of which any school- mighfj-'be fustll pioud, and being fashioned', entirely from New Zealand timbers, j s most- an petition l6 f °T) the P ur P° ses of the competition. The nmu body is divided kauri ° Il'1 l ' f eCt i° ns • panellings of Kami, bordered with,-an- edging of P- lrl ‘ w .hich enc-loses .a -narrow’ strip;of chequer inlay of rata.and .teagrire, knot on 16 ? ls >-,Pushed oval totara Knot on a maire base, -surmounted with a. raised silver mounting bearing Presented b\ Geo. Syme .and ; .Co.,. Ltd -to the Taramiki Education Boai d for . annua! competition in afforestation workamorm the schools* ot. the ’Taranaki mstrietr.v A silver scroll- placed across, the. top I• the “ ou I n , tl?l S 18 ' inscribed,. ‘ ‘AfforestJtion Shield,” and another underneath P l!!. OUI f? g ,1s , inscribed “Taranaki iriiinaiy Schools.* J . . , iU Q g - s ’' SJsss « G. Kidlev ‘ , kynie, were exceedinglv well the displays given by the a, -it ? Ch + ?° ls -^ ch .' competed, particu-. •ariy as this .is the first year of the competition. an c T a> the. Yesult of its'encouraging cpiii menceineiib they confidently anticipate that it' will develop on a very large scale As was recorded in Tuesdav’s Star the shield has this year been W’on by the Ohangai school'. The pupils of this school have raised four of the most useful varieties ..of. gums for thi s distnct, viz., E. obliqu'a. E. • botryoides, . ‘ T regnums, add E. Marcar'thm'f and a so Californian, redwood, a tray of-each being exhibited. . They did not .scoke .*s heavily for plants as some of the other schools, the salt ••‘.Winds having JiveA the plants a very seve® check/ In the history, essay, and t general-/display work, however, they.maintained ‘a very hue standard. The history chart is very well set out, giving all the operations, With the dates qf-artd. reasons for each, together with useful sketches Jbeil- notes on the six New’ Zealand timber trees are the work of some of the Maori pupils, and embody in an explicit maimer all the required in- 1 formation, giving a very/good, botanical, description of the plants and the usesof the timber. The- general display '.- -section is the best work shown by this school. It includes a, collection‘of 44 useful New Zealand timbers, all neatly mounted and named, and a. collection of 60 of native plants) arid also pen and ink drawings '.lt also includes a complete life history.,of the growth of six varieties of guiiis raised in the school grounds."four 'years ago, a further interesting feature being a •graph showing the comparative growths, the tallest (E. obliq.ua) having grown--21 feet in that time/ ’/ ■' The Otakeho school’s entry, which was awarded second . place-, includes some exceptionally . strong and healthy plants, and secured full marks, for the life history-chart, but lost points owing to the weakness of - the general display section. " Third place was secured by Waiau school, who have the- best.-.exhibit of plants raised in the school grounds. These include six varieties of gums and macrocarpa. The life history, liow’evev, is poor, and it was. due to this defect that the exhibit did not secure a.higher' award. The : general display includes a very good collection of barks of New Zealand timber trees, a collection of twenty-four varieties of New- Zealand timbers, with full notes on their growth and uses, also sketches-of native plants and maps showing the location of-forest areas in the North and South Islands. ’ The Ararat a .school, 'in. fourth place, shows good work in' each- section particularly the .display lofy/timbey,' wifh sketches of.plants and notes, on growth.' Other schools exhibiting are Okhiaway ? Ngaere, Fraser Tokabra'; arid Tahora. •• In every ..entry, much . diligent work is evidenced, and as the study is a voluntary'one, the pupils of The various schools deserve to be.-highly- com- : ' ; mended upon their industry and enthusiasm. It is to he honed that' parents and teachers will offer them every encouragement to continue in their useful and attractive nature studv work. Plants being raised in . the. school grounds will-lie ..given to any. of,, the . puipls whose parents will guarantee suitable protection.