OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS COLUMN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15705, 6 March 1913, Page 2

OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS COLUMN

FOR SENIORS AND JUNIORS.

(Conducted by Magister, to whom all communications must be addressed.) [Magister will be glad to resolve Nature notes, marked papers containiag educational article, diagrams, details of experiments, etc., of eoholastio interest to teachers apd -pupils. Correspondents must use only oxb side of the paper, and whether using q pen uame or not, must #end both samh .and address.] THE EYE IN EDUCATION. "Tussock" has sont me four copies of the Illustrated London Nows for the early part of 1910. Throe names thon prominent in ite pages arc now absent. Tho litorary page, "'At the Sign of St. Paul's," was_ edited by Andrew Lang; and the Scienco and Natural History section by Dr Andrew Wilson; and both gentlemen have crossed the threshold. A third page, "Our Noto Book," until tho last month or so, was written by G. K. Chesterton, who has transferred his servioes, I think, to a London Labour daily. As tho leading" illustrated papers now contain artioles by the leading men in all walks of life, what bettor means can be used to educate children in current history , and geography than these papers? Just to show how interesting an illustrated paper is, let mo refer, for a moment or two, to those numbers. In one the front pago is occupied by the portrait of a most unkingliko person, Menelik 11, Emperor of Abyssinia; who claims descent from Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. Didn't wo read tho other day that he was dead, and a?ain that he was not. but was a close prisoner? One page is taken up with "The Science of tho Sea; the Prince of Monaco's Oceanography," and that suggests a short scientific biographical and geographical talk on the prince,' his hobby, and his princedom, with its'gambling he'!. Several pictures tell of the Dalai Lama on his way. to Darjeeling, and-these naturally call up the religious system of Tibet, its connection with China, and the recent Tibetan expedition sent out by ourselves. Here again we have history and geography, not forgetting that Darjeeling is a ing centre, and of meteorological interest; Of melanoholy interest is the picture of "An automobile which, it is hoped, will reach the South Pole; the motor-6leigh (somewhat on the pedrail system), which, will be taken to the Antarctio by Captain Scott." Another illustration shows ..solar clouds of metallio vapour rising to nearly .300,000 miles. These sun storms are given a 6 causes of floods. A note ■ added says: "Although it docs not by any means followthat a rise in solar temperature means additional heat on the earth, it does mean an increase in evaporation on tho part of oceans and' other stretches of water, and, consequently, additional _ rainfall." A double-paged illustration is headed "The British Air-office. A place of wind-towers, whirling-tables, and gales made to order. The testing of aeroplanes at the National Physical Laboratory at Teddington" (Tide-ending-town). A cable Just week shows how air-traffio is developing. _ Let me reproduce it:—"Mr Graham White proposes a mercantile air fleet that shall be subsidised in tho same way as steamships. Tho airships are to carry mails in time, of peaoc and guns in war time. There will ue aorodromcs, air docks, and schools for airmen throughout the United Kingdom if the Government support the schemc, many financiers arc ready, to launch." A teacher in referring to this would naturally glide on to submarines, and then what would be an opportune time perhaps to contrast Trafalgar with the future, sea-fight with its huge,' accurately-aimed cannon, steam power, aerials, and submarines, etc. Illustrations of Pctra, with its 6tono carvings, almost as clear-cut in appearance as when they left the hands of the soulptors, tell us of the rise and fall of nations, but also suggest the question, Why do tlwsy not crumble away faster? What of London monuments? and so on. It is patent to anyone that these illustrated papors are of permanent value, as well as of parsing interest. Why, then, are these foci of the world's history, past and present, not mado more use of?

Tho use of tho lantern in schools and colleges appears to me to be an essential complement to most modern teaching. When Sir E. Shiackleton and Captain Amundsen returned from Antarctica, both gave excellent lantern lectures, and _ the lantern is now used in the Otago University; but if lantern lectures are so essential ■fov a clear presentation of knowledge to adults, are tney not much more essential for presenting knowledge to children? We might go a step'further, and bring into use the kinematograph, though "faked" pictures should be used very sparingly. Recently we had a fine film showing works in progress on the Panama Canal. ,It was a revelation, though from a teaching point of view a lecturer—lecture notes very brief and to tho point—and some "still" slides would have been an improvement.. If tho Education Department cannot arrange for a series of films, cannot tho various Education Boards have their plants or arrange with some firm to give kinomatograph lessons? How teachors' institutes, inspectors, training college principals, ' education boards, and other educational organisations can have annual meetings, and so persistently ignore eyo education through pictures, I cannot understand, especially when pictures' are used as money-makers by thoso who have no educational object in view.

Just ono more word on tho lantern. Wo havo an Empire Commission among us—an Empiro Eleven, I have heard tho members called. Would it be out of place to suggest that it recommend each part of the British Domimions to present four or five sets of slides—'Great Britain would want more—to every other part of the Empire?, To represent all her activities Great Britain would havo to havo a thousand or two in each ret, but a set from us need mot run into more than two or three hundred, because our industries aro fow and simple, and a hundred or so would represent the varied features of New Zealand scenery.

Now a final word—for the present. I should like to see in the Free Library a oomplete set, of Punch, Illustrated London News, Grapliio, and Sphere, and itho wholo of tho pictures carefully indexed and in charge of ono of the assistants, whoso business it would bo to beoomo familiar with them. Then supposing I wanted to give a lesson on Antarctica, how pleasant it would be if I oould _ fortify myself with a good collection of pictures. Many, of ' course, could be copied on slides and have an indefinite circulation.

What do you think of my suggestions, readers? I am afraid that, if carricd out, they would bo educational, so perhaps it is useless to make'them. , ■■

THE SOUTHLAND NATURALISTS' SOCIETY. Recently this society had a successful field day at Bluff, and in all probability the *iext excursion will be to the Maka.rewa bush, which is said to be characteristically different from any bush yet. visited. Prom tho report furnished to tho Southland Times I tako tho following botanical and geological notes:— "Tho bush was foiind to bo rich in somo of the more striking native ferns. Among th-cso was tho raro climbing umbrella, fern (Gleichinia cireiaata), tho very elegant Asplenium fulcatum, and tho handsome Ncphrodium hispidum. Tho flowering plants were for the' most part over, but a protty native gentian was everywhere in evidence. Few 'birds wore to be soon or heard, it being tho moulting- season, but tho rifleman and the makomako wero not uncommon, and on tho beach a flock of very tame' mackerel gulls was. noticed. Nativo plants would appear to havo many admirers, at Bluff; in tho garden of a resident a magnificent plant of tho Chatham Island forgot-me-jiot was notioed, whilo in other frontages several parrots-beaks (olianthus), many handseroo veronicas, and somo_ exceptionally fine poroporos (Solanum- aviculare) wore observed.

" From th-o Bluff Hill it may bo observed that tho <x>untry around InveroargiU is o*f ,i very flat nature. At somo time in tho far distant past tho land stood at a, higher elevation, tho Oreti River, and probably also the Matanra, or their progenitors, eroded a wide valley down which they (lowed to the sea. It would bo as well to point out hero that tho Maitaura has not always pursued its present course. At ono timo it prohably Mowed the valley between tho Domes, but a tributary of tho Nokomai flowing: along tho strike . of tho rocks, and eroding its channel more energetically, out into tho Matoura at right angles and captured Its waters. Affcor tho rivers flowing through the Southland plains had formed this ancient valloy tho land suffered a oyelo of • depression. As it slowly sank beneath' tho sea tho valloy was filled up with gravels and debris brought down by tho livers, and the fertile plains of Southland' had thoir beginnings then. That such a doop gravel deposit.exists around Invorcargili' was amply demonstrated by tho specimens taken from tho doop bore in tho Waterworks Reservo, This boro went down about 700 ft, through grovel, sand, and other similar formations, without reaching bed rock. Tho period of doprcpsiot) ended, olovation of the land, surface commenced, and tho rivers began to resort tho gravels previously laid down. Tho gravel beijig toft was easily attacked, and as the

rivers swung from side to eido wide flats wcro formed, and tbe levelling process is being constantly canisd oa at the present day. "The rivers flowing' 'through Southland have direct courses showing tint the laud at ono time stood at a higher elevation. Such elevation caused a greater' velocity in their flow, and enabled them to keep straighter oourses than tho streams flowing over flat country. Apparently the Oreti Kiver has had its course changed parallel to the coastline by the sand units driven to tho east by the prevailing current through Foveaux Straits.

44 Bluff Harbour, Awarua. Bay, Waituna Lagoon, and the other email lagoons which together make a chain of waterways divided by smdspits, from Bluff to Fortrose, were in all probability formed in the following way: Tho Band and gravels carried by the current which prevails through Foveaux Strait were deposited in the still water under the lee of I3luff Hill. This eandspit was gradually extended by fresh deposits until it reached the rocky headland at Fortrose. Tho sandbank gradually increased in width and height, more especially, at tho Fortrose end, A largo area of water was now confined, and seeking an outlet this water attacked tho barrier at its weakest part olose to Bluff Hill, forming a channel along a groove which may have beon previously cut by some ancient river. Tho tide now rushes along this channel at a little over oight miles per hour. Subsequently the large lagoon was broken up by lateral 'sandspite, and Waituna lagoon, which is occasionally connected! with the sea, wa6 separated from Awama Bay.

"Coming now to the Bluff Hill itself. The hill is believed to be composed of the one sort of rock throughout. A,nd this rock no doubt forms the core of' tho whole range of hills from Bluff to Groenhills. The rock is an igneous one, or in other words, it was primarily a' rock in the molten state. This was forced upwards, but did not break through the overlying rocks, and thus it cooled slowly to a great depth. The overlying rocks were gradually worn away until tho present range of' hills was exposed. Around this mass of intrusivo rock is a •fringe, of tho older rocta which have been intruded. These intruded rocks have been metamorphosed bv tho great heat of the molten mass, ana considerable changcs in their structure and composition havo occurred. Thcso metamorphio rocks are to bo found between the end of Henderson street and Stirling Point. They are schistose in character—that is to say, they tend to split up into thin plates. "Tho mac-s of rook forming the hill has at different times been variously named. It is now called "norite," and tho name meets with general acceptance from those best qualified to judgo. The constituents of the rock are hornblende and a soda-lime felspar. About one-half of the rock consists of felspar crystals, and the balance of ferro-magnesian minerals. Chemically tile norite is composed principally of silica, about 50 per cent., and tho balance is mado up principally of alumina 20 per cent,, oxides of iron 15 per cent., oxides of lime and soda 10 per cent., and small quantities of oxides of magnesium, potassium, and water" , i

The geological section of tho report concludes by. saying that, to tho uninitiated, there appear to bo different types of rocks at Bluff, but that they aro all really modifications of the same rock. Further, that it is akin to Scotch granite, and that it makes splendid road metal and building material, but that tho expense of quarrying it prevents its general use. EXPERIMENTS IN POLLINATION. Some of our school teachers try experiments in pollination, and such will read with interest tho following sent mo by Mr (J. M. Thomson, M.P., F.L.S. It is taken from the report of tho December meeting of the Linnean Society, London. From tho same source is tho first paragraph dealing with "Wild Rice." The notes on pollination ought also to interest orchardists, who might bo tempted to experiment.

Dr Otto Stapf, F.R.S., Sec L.S., exhibited specimens of Wild Rioo. annua! and perennial He dwmed "Wild Rioe" as including all spontaneously growing forms of Oryza, which, as fia.r as the structure of their spikelets is concerned, might be considered as conspccific with Oryza. sativa, except that their spikelets are readily deciduous when mature. He showed in a map the present extension of rice cultivation, and traced briefly its history; whilst another map demonstrated the area of the genus Oryza, with the exclusion of cultivated rice. He then pointed out the main areas of "Wild Rice," as defined above:—(l) In t North Australia; (2) in India, with extensions to Cambodja and possibly Borneo; (3) in tropical Afrioa from Abyssinia, to the Nigor; (4) in Senegambia and possibly extending to tho, -region of Lake Tchad; (5) in t Soiuth America. The "Wild Rices" of areas' 1-3 and possibly some of area 5 aire. annual, the remainer perennial. He concluded with the suggestion that the domesticated rices aro probably polyphyletic, most having originated from the Wild Rices of area 2; and some from those of areas 3 and possibly 5.

" Mr Cecil H. Hooper then gave an account entitled "Experiments on the Pollination of our Hardy Fruits, with observations on the Insect visitors to the blossoms," illustrating the same with lantern slidts. Ho •jtatcd that strawberries, provided there is wind, set fruit well without insects. Raspberries and loganberries generally set fruit imperfect in shape ,if insects aro exoluded. Red, white, and black currants and gooseberries, owing to the construction of their flowers and pollen .(which is glutinous), cannot bo pollinated and set their fruit without the visits of insects, more particularly hive and bumble bees. All the previously mentioned plants set fruit perfectly with pollen of the same variety or even of the same flower; but m.the oaso of the apple, pear, plum, and oherry, this is not always t'ne case, many varieties being self-sterile, and almost all produce more abundant and finer fruit with pollen of another variety. In theso trees there is very little transference of pollen by the wind, and even if a selffertile tree is enclosed in muslin whilst in blossom (there being ample movement of the wind, insects only being excluded), it is the exception for any fruit to set it is the samo with gooseberries and currants. In trials with apples, only 19 varieties out of 65 proved self-fertile; in pears, 4 out of 30; in plums, 21 out of 41; in chorries, 5 out of 12; whilst, when cross-pollinated, in three-quarters of the trials one or more fruits set on a truss,

There' seems to be a preference as to pollen, some varieties setting better with pollen of one variety than of that of another; and some varieties will not set with certain pollen. Tho knowledge of the usual order of blossoming is _ useful M a guide for interplonting varieties, so as to ohoose varieties that flower aDout the same time for planting together. Out of nearly 3000 insects observed this spring visiting the blossoms of the various fruit bushes and trees, 88 per cent, were hive-bees, 5£ per cent, bumble and other wild bees, and 6| per cent, flies, ants, beetles, wasps, and other insects; but the latter group have not fluffy bodies for carry-

ing and transferring pollen, and chiefly amuso themselves eating the pollen, and are not therefore proportionately as useful as the hive and wild bees.

Recommendations. —In planting, intermix varieties of fruit trees.-for better oross-pol-lination, and keep bees, especially in,suburban gardens and large fruit-growing districts where the work of pollination is out of proportion to the number of wild bcce in the neighbourhood.

SUNRISE AND SUNSET FOR MARCH. Mr Morris sends along the times for March. If teachers and others follow up Mr Morris's figures they will notice that for a week or two beforo and after tho longest and the shortest days the lengthening or shortening is inappreciable, but that before and after the Equinoxes the gain or loss is very noticeable. Mr Morris prefaces his figures by the following remarks:— Notes on Mabch. "We are onoo more approaching the March Equinox, which occuns this year on March 21. The eun crossos the Equinoctial line at about 5 p.m. on that dato m New Zealand mean time. This date (March 21) is a good dato lor testing tho accuracy 01 tho recorded sunrise and sunset in our almanacs. By adding tho recorded time of sunrise to tho recorded tuno of snn6et wo obtain 12 hours, plus twice the equation of time for the 2lßt. The equation of timo for tho 21st Maroh is 7min 26sec. The process tor testing the accuracy of our almanac readings is obvious. Tile 12 hours equals the amount of probable sunlight all over the world < when the sun is just on the Equinoctial line. As otir days are now ' creeping in ' as regards daylight, I have left out the column length of sunlight, and have substituted the time as nearly as possible when darkness begins. This will, ,1 hope, be found very useiul and hacdy, especially to those engaged in office and other similar work. The whole is calculated for Dunedin latitude,—eay, 45deg 54min. Refraction and size of solar disc are disregarded. I have, however, calculated tho retraction for March, 1913, under normal atmospheric conditions. The result is 45 minutes of arc at Dunedin latitude, The sunlight arc is therefore ldeg 30niiu longer than it otherwise would bo if there were no refraction. Therefore, sunrise will take place 3 minutes of time sooner and sunset 3 minutes later than tho times I have given—6minutes in all. This will lengthen the timo of visible sunlight by 6, minutes; but the actual time of sunlight will bo about 12 hours for March.

"On March 22 there will be an eclipse of the moon. I have not worked it out, but I think it ought to bo visible in New Zealand at midnight." Twilight Sun Eise. Sun Set. Ends, h. m. s. h. m. 6. h. m. s. 1 5 40 32 6 44 40 8 24 00 2 < 6 41 56 6 42 52 8 21 48 3 5 43 24 6 41 00 8 19 40 4 5 43 47 6 39 11 8 17 41 5 o 46 19 6 37 31 8 15 40 6 5 47 32 6 35 32 8 13 40 7 5 48 54 6 33 42 8 11 44 8 6 50 15 6 31 61 8 9 44 !) 5 51 40 6 29 56 8 7 4-1 10 5 53 05 G. 28 01 8 6 40 11 5 54 25 C 26 09 8 3 48 12 : 6 55 49 6 24 .13 8 1 44 13 ... ... 5 57 05 6 22 25 8 0 00 14 5 58 33 6 20 25 7 68 00 15 ' 5 59 ,52 6 18 32 7 56 04 16 6 1 15 6 16 35 7 54 04 17 ... ... 6 2 35 6. 14 39 7 52 16 18 6 3 52 6 12 48 7 50 28 19 G 5 14 G 10 50 7 48 36 20 .6 6 36 6 8 52 7 46 24 21 6 7 58 6 6 54 7 45 36 22 6 9 16 6 5 00 7 45 30 23 ... ... 6 10 30 6 3 10 7 45 24 24 6 11 51 . G 1 11 7 45 18 25 6 13 IS 6 59 17 1 45 00 26 6 14 30 5 57 19 7 43 55 27 6 15 48 5 55 24 7 42 12 28 6 17 09 6 53 25 7 40 33 29 6 18 27 '5 .52 31 7 39 55 30 ... ... G 19 45 6 49 37 7 37 21 31 ... ... 6 21 03 5 47 43 7 35 47 April 1 .... G22 20 ..5 45 48 ' 1 34 16 J. F. Honius, Catlins. CORRESPONDENCE AND NOTES. " S." kindly forwards me the following note: "'King- Solomon's Mines' should be read before Allan Quartermain,' as the latter is the sequel." In my note last week " Quatcrmain ".. was inoorreotily given ".Quartermain ; and Sir Theophalus Shepstone. was called by the natives "Somsteu," not " Somsten," as, was given. I am 6orry these errors ocourred, but I suppose they wore mine, though it would be bo easy to blame the compositor. I had forgotten for the moment that " Allan Quatermaiin" was the sequel.

" Reader" suggests that Sir Rider Haggard bo aifced to give a lecture on South Afrioa. I am sure it would be an interesting one, and would draw a fonge audience; but perhaps Sir Ridar would not care •to give his opinions seeing that he mil visit South Africa soon in his capacity as a commissioner.

i " Patrio " (Oamaru) sends a letter upon civility. I think that with his note we shall close the correspondence upon manners.

Oamaru, February 22. Dear " Magister,"—Seeing you would like the opinions" of'readers' on. the question raised by "Civility" last week, I say at onoe I heartily agree with, you in all you expressed. A few words on any such subject can often give, a meaning taken variously by readers. True oourtesy is innate; formal phrases may be taught to some who may never see thodeeper moaning. "Yours respectfully,"' " Yours faithfully," are suitable conclusions to a formal lettor, but how we see the more pretentious endings contracted to "I am, etc.," whiah I dislike. My father taught that true politeness meant consideration for tho feelings of others. That includes,everything—from the manner of closing a door to the greatest ooncems of life. The employer lias no more right to be arrogant towards the worker than tho servant has to be impudent to the master. Each has the right to be respected for what he stands for; and if that pririr ciple were observed by all there would not bo _ such _ bitter elaes feeling. " Noblesse oblige" is imperfeotly understood in these new lands—can the ' self-made man over understand it?—so the worker who remains poor is envious and bitter, and thinks money is all powerful. Money cannot buy culture, ajid true gentility cannot bo taught in schools, Liko true religion, like true patriotism, is comes _ from our deep inner consciousness—it a state of mini How oan we define patriotism? It is very well to be ready to die for our country, but better to resolve to live for our country. And, as you have said, it is tho true spirit that is needed, rather than tho form, in ajl things. There will always bo inequality— intellectually, physically, morally. But brains and must be the greatest assets to any man, in New Zealand at least. Pater's Chats are especially interesting just now; they seem to go hand in hand with your columns, and tend always to broaden the outlook of young readers. To change to quite another subject, I should liko to quoto_ from some Nature notes from an American journal. There was a discussion in your columns about weasels offld their tribe, and though you must havo been tired of the word, I may be able to give some facts. Tho following is.the extract: <r You may see the weasel, his beady, slightly bulging black eyes looking intently straight ahead over the black tip of his nose. His back is brownish, and his tail tip is black, but tho rest of him is so white that ho seems two black eyes set in white, ns preternaturally alert 'as his body—a wild and beautiful little animal in the snow." Now I say positively, this animal is unknown in •New Zealand. 'Whether that description applies to the weasel in England I know not, but with us the destructive little pest which is generally called weasel has no white, and never changes in the winter. I fancy they must stay in somo warm hole most of the opld weather, for they are busy all summer, and collect great numbers of eggs under logs, or any such place. I have found dozens which must havo lain for months, and though addled with tho damp, tliev had not been broken and eaten. The jiveasol, afi wp call him, is a littlo animal, russet brown on tho back, dark ooareo hair on tip of tail, and pale lemon i yellow on under part of body. The fur is thin and very short, and the skins ooidd never be of valuo as fur. Tho much rarer ferret has a beautiful ooot, long silky hair, and is a much larger animal. Some aro cream, and some aro a. du>n colour with a cream undertint; _ They scorn eggs, but relish young duoklings, and even attack the hen roost and suck the blood of tho victim from tho neck. I don't remember what opinion Mr J. Shoro held to, but he is right, I think, about the nativo birds. Weasels or no, they will always retreat as closer settlement advances. Wo sco very few hero. Goldiea seem very scarce of lata years, and even if the council resfciot the soiling' of their eggs, tho small boy will still rob the nest. In fact, ho will Spare no nc-sfc —all eggs are olilco his spoil. A fow yellow-hammers are seen, a few red-polls. ' Ono pair of bullfinches I saw this year,' and ono pair of chaffinchee—the cock bird boing a very pretty lellow. How wo would miss tho c!oar carolling of the thrush, the beautiful warblo of the blackbird? Wo oan forgivo their robberies in om orchards. But we should prefer our native birds, a.nd if Makinihi could have his wish, some might yot boseen eveai here in sheltered spots.—Yours sincoroly, Patrie.