THE BACK – BLOCKS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5731, 28 October 1905, Page 7

THE BACK - BLOCKS.

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. PROGRESS IN TARANAKI. 'Dio step taken by the Wellington Eilii-atioii Board and the Technical Hoard this week in deciding to appoint an instructor in elementary agriculture must he welcomed by every farmer who understands tho value of systematic instruction. Of course, it is not supposed for a moment that the course wh‘ h children will receive under this arrangement will fit them for taking up agricultural pursuits. Far from it. Tho object of the agricultural education is to foster in the youngsters an iuto.ligent interest in matters pertaining to tho land, so that as they grow up they may bo both encouraged and assisted to follow the productive callings rather than drift into or remain in tho towns.

It is a most gratifying thing in Taranaki to see tho number of schools that are taking up practical gardening. Almost every school in tho district, even in tho back-blocks, has a small garden plot worked by tho children. Tho primary facts and conditions of agriculture are thus instilled into tho children at an early ago, and they are able to assimilate later tho more intricate matters. At tho Stratford District High School there aro some particularly useful technical classes, at which children from tho surrounding district aro doing good practical work. Tho writer had an opportunity last week of seeing tho dairy class in full swing. There were about fifty pupils, both boys and girls, busily engaged in tlio separation of milk and testing for acidity by tho alkaline tost. They showed a good practical knowledge of tho working and caro of tlio separator and tho principles of separation, and testing for acidity and butter-fat. Tlio dairy room is fully equipped w’ith an Alfa Laval separator, Babcock tester, churn, working-table, and all tho necessary utensils; and tho children aro able to got a good practical and intelligent knowledge of tho industry that most closely affects them and their country. Tho instructor docs not protend to tcaoh actual milking, because every boy or girl can learn that much better on a farm than in a class; but cows are mil Iced by tho class now and again for tho purpose of demonstrating tlio variation in tho quality of tho milk at different stages of the milking. Besides this, tho practical work at the Stratiord School comprises aeration and cooling, testing for butter-fat, separation of cream, ripening, starters, churning, buttor-fiiaking, and tho uso of preservatives. Tho children are also instructed in tlio caro and working of tho machinery.

Last year about seventy children from Stratford and neighbouring districts attended the classes, which are under tho control of Hr J. Dromgool, B.Sc. The Eltfiam School intends to adopt tho same moriiod of instruction, but on a more extended scale. Tho committee is anxious to obtain an education reserve of twelve acres for tho purpose of tho school, so that more of tho outside work can ho done on tho spot. Already children who have learned tho rudiments of testing in tho Stratford School aro putting their knowledge into practice on their -arents 1 herds. ' WAIRARAPA SHOW. Tho Wairarapa and East Coast P. and A. Society is not only a progressive institution, but its members Slow a commendable readiness to listen to reasonable suggestions. Its committeemen wish to cater for the general public—and do so with marked success—in tho way of providing attractive programmes. including picturesnuo and exciting “ ring ” events ; but they are, at the same time, not oblivious to tho fafct that tho principal and more serious reason for the existence of their society is to bring about competition and rivalry —and, consequently, improvement—in tho breeding of stock of all kinds. Speaking generally, the society’s sheds, grandstands, and other appointments are of an adequate and permanent nature, and give satisfaction alike to the public and to exhibitors—who, after all, make tho show. There is one respect, however, in which improvement is more than desirable—it is absolutely necessary. It is in tho belief that the matter only needs to ho pointed out, and its urgency indicated, to have it attended to, that these lines aro written. Tho improvement required is bettor provision for tho sheep exhibits. At present valuable sheep are penned on undrained ground, with the result that if the weather is not fine tho animals are 'practically rendered unfit for exhibition or competition at other shows which may be near at hand. On Thursday last, after the heavy rain of Wednesday, tho poor sheep were lying in several inches of mud, and it would he almost Impossible to get them into suoh condition as would allow them to compete at Palmerston North next week with any prospect of prize-winning.

SOUTH WAIRARAPA. It has been a wet season for lambing in the Wairarapa district, particularly in tho Southern portion. Notwithstanding this, the percentage of lambs in all tho good flocks may be considered good. Mr A. Matthews, of the Featherston district, considers the average percentage is about 95 to 100. He says it has been, really a shocking season all over the district, and particularly in his locality. Ever since tilie storm which wrecked tho Addenda in October last floods have teen eo frequent that tho low country has been of very little use. The consequence is that the' sheep have not been in tho condition, during the past year that they usually are, and the wool has suffered. There is every probability that there will be a deficiency in tho clip as compared with last year. It is satisfactory to know, however, that, although tho percentage of lambs is not high, and the clip may fall short, the wet spring has not done harm all round, as regards tho crops. Of course if affects low-lying and clay lands rather tadly, hut on tho stony land—of which there is a largo area in tho Wairarapa—tho extra min has had rather beneficial effects, as this land absorbs a great quantity of water.

Messrs Cuddio and Singleton, of tho Government Department of Agriculture, acted together in judging tho dairy exhibits-at tho Carterton show, and they found the butter and cheese of such unform character that it took 9. long time, and gave considerable difficulty to allot the awards. Tho experts stated to tho representative of this paper that tho factory butter was well up to standard. Tho factory-made cheese was not quite up to last year’s standard; but the latter, it must be remembered, was exceptionally high. Though the make of most of tho exhibits was good, tho flavour of some might havo been a little cleaner. A number of them gave evidence of tho use of '‘starters,” which had rather a bad effect on tho flavour. Tho body and texture of tho majority of the ex-

hibits wore, on (he whole, up to aver-1 ago quality, though the judges were hi- I Hilled to think -euie thmvvd excessive ; acidhv. The chowt-s wen; all eg,-:; mj tody ’and fairly uniform in quality.