BOYS' AND GIRLS' CLUBS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 7 October 1922, Page 3

BOYS' AND GIRLS' CLUBS.

' A very interesting and instructive ' report was given by Mr. J. W. Deem on the work_ of Boys' and Girls' Agricultural Clubs of Taranaki and Wanganui. The movement for the first year took in South Taranaki only, but last year North Taranaki, Brunswick, Wai ngaehu and Feilding were included. Calf clubs were also added and proved very successful. Forty-three schools in Taranaki and eleven in the Wanga- ! nui district competed. The instructor says that although the percentage of failures \v|as large, the standard of work in cultivation ana general attention showed a big improvement. The gain per acre of yield of mangolds increased in South Taranaki by 21 tons 7 cwt, while the champion crop was nearly doubled —77 tons to 152 tons. Twenty-four competitors gained the highest marks for cultivation, a fact that speaks well for .the work done. In carrots the best was 72 tons in South and 54 tons in' North Taranaki. Taranaki far exceeded the outside schools. The director, in his concluding remarks, hopes for a great increase in number and an extension to other parts of the Dominion. He. says he feels sure the movement is likely to instil an interest in the minds of the shildren for Tarm life, and this should lave a counter influence against the Irift of country to city.