SCHOOL GARDENS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue LXVIII, 24 June 1912, Page 6

SCHOOL GARDENS.

CHIEF INSPECTOR'S COMMENT,

In the Chief Inspector's last monthly report to the Wanganui Education Board there was the following reference to sciiool gardens: — ' ''The value ol the school .garden to the agricultural community is nil," so said the headmaster of an Auckland secondary school before the Education Commission. Testimony does not point quite in the same direction in our district. "I take it that the whole of the people in a district should look to the school for direction as to how to carry out improved methods of cultivation," ■said Mr Browne, one of the supervisors ot agricultural instruction, in his report to the Board; and the energies of the schools are, during the next season, to he extended in the direction of lucerne growing, fruit, or fodder crops, topdressing, herd-testing and fruit culture; and in each of the 22 reports on school jigriculture that he sends, there will be found material of infinite importance to the farmer. Two of the committees in Mr Browne's district have agreed to provide a suitable manure for the topdressing of the whole of the school grounds. Mr Grant's testimony points in the same direction. Speaking of the school farm at Marton, he says: "The hoys are greatly interested in the lessons given—these are first aid to animals and elementary animal husbandry, farm mechanics, practical work on the farm. In proof of this I may mention the strenuous efforts made by some of the Taihape boys, who ride several miles to the station, the temperature sometimes being less than 20deg. F., to catch the train at 0 a.m., and they are not conspicuous by any sign''of weariness." To pretty much the same effect Mr Banner speaks. Interviewed by farmers nt Apiti regarding the prospects of lucerne growing, and doubting success on account of frosts and big rain-fall, he recommended a trial of a couple of plots of the plant in question in the school garden for demonstrative purposes. .Coming fresh frora Hawkesbury Agricultural College, he speaks thus of the pupUs at the Halcombe school: "The /mr.ijs show great interest in their work •md are vary responsive to questions." Having visited fifteen primary schools in this district, Mr Banner sums up his experiences thus: "With few exceptions + here is great need for the eternal 'Why?' The work is in danger of becoming mechanical, and the true aim seems to be forgotten. My work with the school classes has been'in the main to demonstrate the value of the 'Why?' At the larger schools I hare advised the planting of fruit-trees for demonstration in planting, budding and grafting. Most of the schools will make a feature of this on Arbor-day." And so the school garden may be, after all, of some service to the "cause of floriculture.