AGRICULTURE IN SCHOOLS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 11 July 1925, Page 9

AGRICULTURE IN SCHOOLS.

BOYS' AND GIRLS’ CLUBS. ANNUAL MEETING. Ait the annual meeting of the Boys’ and Girls' Agricultural Clubs, held this morning. Mr. R. Dunn presided o\-er a small attendance ot members. There were present: Messrs. A. J. Glasson, T. limes, R-. Syme, AV • K. Frauds-, A. Cameron, E. J. Betts \V . McL’Dowie, F. Ho skin, W Reid, J. Dakers and the secretary (Mr. it. K. Cameron). Apologies were received from Messrs. J. AY. Deem, R. G. Ridling, and L. O. Hooker. CIALF-REARING COMPEITTI ON.

Mr. R- Syme, one of the judges, submitted -the annual report ais iol[q\ys : —* . .... Tlie judging lor this com petition took pi ace ”iu December of last year, sind from tire- cnthus-iaisin show u by tho competitors land the quality of the work done it is apparent that this competition continues to bo a populai one with the children. Entries were re-cei\ r ed from 18 schop-ls to the total of 122. . Of these 96 were presented for judging, the A' a no us dairy broodis being ropre-sen ted as follows: Jerseys 81, Ayrshire 1, Shorthorn 4, Friesian 10. The judging wasi based on the same scale, of points a« for the previous Year, i.e., condition 100. cost 50, record' chart 50. The average cost or feeding ishoAved an increase over tlie figures for last- season as is shown by the following table : Year Average Highest Lowest cost. cost. cost-. £ ,-s. d. £ d s. s. d.

As in -preidous years and quite apart from the rearing competition, the calves Avere judged on dairy type, and demonstrations were gi\-en by the judges at -the A r ariou-s) schools. in this way the interest in and the educational value of the competitions Avere greatly increased. At a number of the .schools yearling and -two-year-old animals that had been reared under tlie scheme in pa-st years, Avere again presented for judging on dairy type. This is a A*ery pleasing feature of the ‘work, as it show* that the interest of the child in the animal does not end when the da If is reared. AYe are indebted to the following gentlemen. for -so generously giving their sendees as judges: AV. MciL’Dowie, L. S. Barraclough, AV. P. Jenkins, T. Hoskin and H. Wren. The judging of charts and records was again carried out by Mr. R. Syme. Air F. Hoskin, one of the judges, furnished a short report on the work done during the past year. He said that conditions varied very much, and that, there was a lack ol keenness in many centres which detracted from the value of the work. Where teachers and parents .were enthusiastic there good work Avas done. Air AV. McL’DoAV-ie said everything was good except that in -some centres entries were not so good in quality as one ivould Avish, and there was need of more enthusiasm.' Both agreed that Rawhitiroa iva s the best centre.

R 00T-GROWING COMPETITIONS. .Mr A. J. Glasson submitted the annual report, as already published in the Star. . The chairman said the .reports nidicate cl a slackness, and they must try to creat more enthusiasm. He added that the epidemic had had an adverse influence. He said h© would see that more entries were received from Auroa, and would take it on himself to push this forward. Mr E. J. Betts said a matter that operated to the advantage of the movement was that supervisors were not appointed at all schools. They should be appointed at once and manures and seeds sent to them. Mr A. J. Glasson said that as there was no complete list of supervisors materials were sent to the schools. Ho wa s convinced that they must get the sympathy and influence of the parents, and he considered that local , prizes given in each district had increased interest, and these should be instituted everywhere. They were, however, no good unles s supported by the parents and teachers. He, instanced Rawhitiroa, where they always mad© visitors welcome, and the parents were as keen as the children. The responsibility for carrying on the competitions should be put’ on the supervisors, and they should be expected to "know something about the crops. Mr J. Dakers suggested asking parents to sign a form agreeing to let the children have a plot and to co-oper-ate with them. In this way they might get help from the parents. Mr E. J. Betts said that in regard to calf-rearing he considered it would not matter what breed the calves were. Mr Syme saicl there was a weakness caused by the lack of interest taken by parents. * Teachers could not be expected to canvass for entries or to supervise. and all they asked for was moral support. lie considered also that supervisors when appointed did not get_sufficient notice. An effort must, however, be made to try and bring the parents into the scheme and so help the children. The chairman suggested that a report bo asked for from tiie supervisors on the work of the children. Mr. Syme said that in the past they hafi not selected always the right men, and the best should lie available.

Mr. Glasson said they should get entries earlier for him to be able to send out supplies of material in good time. Mr. Syme suggested sending a letter to the school committees asking them to appoint two supervisors, or, where there *is a branch of the Farmers’ Union, one from each body.

Mr. Hoskin said it was a move in the right direction, and that where there were good supervisors the work would be best done. It was agreed that a report be secured from the supervisors about February. Mr. Glasson said that the material required should be sent out by midOctober, and therefore entries should close about the middle of September. This was agreed to by the members. Referring to charts, Mr. Dakers said it would he a great help to the children if a •specimen chart could be sent out to each school. This would improve the work done in the compilation. On the motion of Mr. Syme ft was agreed that the seed used for the competitions should he carrots (Matchless White) and mangolds (Orange Globe).

1.921-22 1 10 5 — — 1922-23 0 1G 10 2 2 6 3 6 1923-24 0 16 Vi 3 1 10 3 54 1924-25 1 0 9J 2 18 51 7i 81 The figures for the various groups are us follows: —• Group No. Total Average judged. cost. cost. £ is. d. £ s. d. 1 25 24 10 61 0 19 71, 2 23 19 19 31 0 17 44 3 23 26 6 04 1 2 64 4 25 28 17 711 3 14