AGRICULTURE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 19 August 1924, Page 3

AGRICULTURE.

WORK AT PRIMARY SCHOOLS. REPORT BY INSTRUCTOR. The senior agricultural instructor (Mr R. G. Ridling) reported to the Taranaki Education Board yesterday as folloAvs:

Primary Schools: During the month 70 schools were visited by the instructors. The work being carried out shows an improvement upon the work done during this session of last year. In some of the smaller schools, however, the work is behind, and the teachers in these schools will have to make an effort to carry out more simple experimental work than they are doing at present. Afforestation: As the result of the stimulus given to the development of afforestation work in connection with nature study and agriculture, some really excellent work has been done in many of the schools. Plants have been raised from seeds and have been successfully cared for throughout the various stages of growth, and much excellent correlation lias been carried out in connection therewith. Nine schools competed in the • competition for the afforestation shield at the Hawera Show, and the work exhibited was very impressive. The shield, which was presented by Messrs Geo. 'Syme and Co., was won by the pupils of the Ohangai school. The competition was of such a standard that very definite value must result from it. As a result of the display at Hawera, the Afforestation Department has taken a decided interest in the work. Mr Ellis, the officer in charge of the forestry section, has expressed his willingness to send one of his instructors round the schools of the province where the work is taken up to give advice and assistance in the work. Mr Page, one of the instructors, has already visited, with Air Syme, several of the schools where the work was conducted this year, and as a result of this visit the work should benefit very greatly. The effort made by Mr Syme to foster this work is exceedingly commendable.

Rural Science Classes: The work at the various centres has proceeded •steadily during the month. The building at liawera has been fitted with furniture and apparatus, so that the 'vork should go on satisfactorily and without further interruption. The fitting of the building at Eltham has been commenced, and when the benches are installed again it will enable sound work to be carried out. At Inglewood the classes are . carried out satisfactorily, but with some inconvenience to the Inglewood school. There is great need for a science room at this centre. "hi oh could he erected on the manual school site. Teachers’ Classes: These have been carried on regularly. The interim examination has been held in each of the centres, and the results show that the teachers are obtaining definite value from their instruction. "Weather Charts: The charts whi h were printed by the board for the keeping of weather records have been despatched to the schools. Many of the schools are short of the recording apparatus required for this branch of the work. The cost of , the outfit ns already supplied to the schools is 18s 6d, made up of barometer (stand, tubs and mercury) 8s 2d, thermometer 2s 4d, rain gauge container os, measure 3s. The carriage of these can he estimated at Is (id, so that for £1 each of the schools can he supplied with this set. Since the development of this work commenced the following have been despatched to the schools: Barometers, ]2O- (costing ;£•/)L bs ); vain gauges, 83 (costing £33 -Is); thermometers, 3(> (costing £3 ]<).s); total cost, £BB 3s. The handling and despatch of this apparatus takes some considerable time, and if the board can see fit to purchase this material in four separate parcels the schools can he supplied steadily till the equipment is complete. Hedge Plants: The hedge plants granted by the board were despatched to small schools where shelter was necessary. After the allotment had been made and the trees despatched an application was received from the M aitara School for 120 Cupressus Lawsoniana trees. These are needed for shelter to the ground, which is badly swept by the mountain winds. The cost of such trees would he £3. These trees arc really needed. "Will the hoard please consider this request? Shows; The work in the rural section at the Hawei'a Show lias improved over last year’s effort. More schools competed. Okniawa again won the shield for most points in this section.