OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS COLUMN

Otago Witness, Issue 2719, 25 April 1906, Page 83

OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS COLUMN

, ' "v" v FOR -BOYS' AND GIRLS. 1 [Conducted by, Magister, to whom all communications '.must be -addressed.] - ' ; ,;. BOTANY IN SGHOOLS. ' ' J -.Sly ""Mature Nptes;" articles •froni>-edu-cational periodicals and -original articles < oontrißutea ,by my- readers, have "brought to the editor the following , letter, written by tlie, late Mr "Matthews, seedsman, per-< haps 25 .years ' ago: — _ The Ghairman btago Education JBoard. Sir,-=il would .-respectfully .direot the attention of --your board -/to 'the -following suggestion ■regarding the teaching of practical botany -in i.the district schools under the board's. juristic-* lion. ,1 am aware that already a great number and variety of -subjects are taught' in iheI schools; but the proposal -I wish to make is one so .fraught with beneficial results both- to • teachers ".and'scho-ars, and at the same time sj ec?y and inexpensive .to carry into effect.,, •that 'I" believe the school * -committees and teachers, almost without ,exceptioni '•twould < readilyvand cheerfully assist in the .matter, 1 .provided your board see fit dp .recommend and authorise its -adoption.- " ' - . My '*propqsai is ..that, a small .portion of the grounds*?attachea to every -jaub'lic '-echoo!' should ■ be 'se^ »paii" for'ithe 'pfurpose'-'of - tfuitivatinK\of. all -the grasses Jvn J coami6n''use."' 'each - speoinaen^.td C- 4 b«; -oors€ctly../yiißttied, r .'amd.tlabellecl, 'and ', that' jjeiioSieal- instiuplion' ?n-4he-. iiames < '&rit£ character istlca,^of:-il:h;ese ijspecimens.' \ t ,shouldr,i>e'rgixeii to -aIT" pupils ;attendiiis:'' r th'e^ .school. .:The extent ; 'qf igrp\iad:/n«cess£ry 'for" the v pufp"ose need -hot x exceed^2o' to '2o Square 1 *yara6, : jand in' ; many idisfucts/the^rjoundvcbul'd j , bs f -prepared,. and .specimens -,prpcufed '""by- *the c .pupils, with, -perhaps, --.sonie^assistance-fronr-*. jjra'ctic'al' 'gaTasiier' or other qualified- person, without -any ovitlay -whatever. To make the botanical lessons more interesting, a small' 1 assortment of common border-flowers might be added, and these could.be utilised for instruction in the same way -as the grass speci- ' mens'.»-/rhe knowledge thus early and easily: acquired -could not fail- to,- prove ofe great practical .utility to a large' proportion of .the. pupils^in after life, more especially- to 'those who might - engage, in. jjastor^l ;or .^gricuUynal. pursiiffef '.'aiid.i^'am;- musß'''inis.tak.eri*if ihe. -study "would nof'also prove '& source' of pleasure and satisfaction, both to 'teachers andjpupils. The elements of general botany >,are,' I be-* licve, at present taught in some of tlieschoola; , -but it is a dry study,, and one 'likely ;to be ; relished by only .», Much ignorance prevails among farmers/ graziers, and men. engaged in. kindred pursuits as,to the names of even the most common grasses, very few being able to distinguish correctly between the good" and the worthless. 3?or these -reasons T think that the teaching of the simple practical 'lessons indicated above would go far to supply a very important -branch .of useful practical knowledge. — I am, etc., •. j ' ' G. :Matthbws, Seedsman, etc. ; , ' _ This letter only shows -how "a man may ' live before ">lu3 'time. .TVlany schools now; have gardens, and Echool > grounds .themselves, apart from gardening, receive far; more attention fiian "-was customary. \ Nature-study, w-hich is t not necessarily . • .bptony,. .tiow ''-reeei'cek .-a./ Jorge.' of! /'"attention- , -But' 'we^-have .-not '.'gone ..enough > yefr,^forr'Nature-sfcudy""3oesjnq / t' give* _~du:ect'''' examination results, and- ive have? still' to put 'far too ; >)nu-cii ",time to ..arith-,' , -.jnotic and one Or .two 'other" sub jeg'tg. '. -\ \ Here k;.a- good . ejterci^s. ;• Have some' j tnbrning^-ihi^ 1 is for .no-ljpys and; „( girls .may -read s^o_ as nob ~U>. be' ' caught— a _s;oad ari3' varied' assortment of" leaves. What percentage -can be correctly^ - named -by each pupil? 'Another tes^ sug-! [ gested by the letter. Let children bring ■ j as many kinds of grass, or let the teacher , do it — teachers have plenty of time for, something additional, — and tret these named . also in the same way. Will my readers , credit this? In one of our schools not long, ago children were not able to distinguish between ears of wheat, oats, - and barley. A MEMO. ON MOTHS. Mr G. M. Thomson, three or Jour weeks , ago. kindly named a moth for us, but, in <■ a casual way, doubted whether the one he named was a distinct variety. The .following note is to correct ; the wrong 'impression created: — ''In a .former note I identified a particular moth, which was sent to me as ' a somewhat rare one, which Howes described in a paper read .before the Otago Institute as Physetica ' hudsoni, but which jlihink is not specifically distinct- from V. coe1 rulea, figured in Hudson's book.' In doing so I j have unintentionally thrown doubt on Mr ■ Howos's identification, and have illustrated I the danger into which anyone is liable to ! fall who is. not a specialist in any particular line. Mr Howes is an on moths, < and lam not. I have since seen examples b36h ; , of P. hudsoni and P. eoerulea, and find 1 they are apparently quite distinct, as Mr • I Howes stated in the referred to. — GrEO. M. Thomson." EXAMINATION ANSWERS. By way of variety T have Tv^m giving a few " howlers " from _Dr '.M'Namara's ! collection. The following are sent "to me Iby an examiner in New Zealand. They r are tie answers of adults, not -children : — ' An examiner in phys'olcrgy in this colony gives some examples of the vagaries oi candidates for examination in this subject: One states that the main artery of the body jfi the "aotea," and that the retina

•^.contains Ca ?fluid-^wi»ich is" called "".verticato -hum«:ous4'" "vWlii-e ane^sa.js^th&i'- blindness * is ;bfack.ra'nother affirms 4* is -dark. grey. • - "'ln" adults -the average' rate- 0f, ,tb.0 pulse is -three miles Van 'hour.'-*> '-^- -» -■ * One -damsel informs thi-t die organs contained, in t the are '!the heart, 1 ihe Uungs, arid the - asparagus." * '„ - The -.spelling- of-some* suggests unconscious* ' humour—^g., the aihnentary canal," ascetio [aoxk'the htimerpus-bone. gelly, etc.- - -In a botany examination, *in answer to - ihe question, - ■]"* -Bow tdo you account for •the- rarity of .plants' 'in New Zealand? v . a, candidate -replied-sthat the reason jis that they are condemned l ,by the Parliament," and- ai-e cut. down as -noxious weeds, DISPERSION. -OF SEEDS, r Last, week - 1 promised a note on fchis s heading, and, riqw^give the outline of -a lessqn "given .by- one of our Dunedin and suburban teachers. "1. Wind .as a Carrier :~ ' * • Thistle,, dandelion, sycamore, .clematis <old tm&jils beard)>; -maple, rushes, etc. v t . Sufts. of silky^ hairs— pappus. Look ai ' . ' ' fine- barbs- ''on. 'dandelion 's'eetl^ se©' how - , they act similarly to Vhe barbs of a >£sliJlOOk. ? * '.-: r^ -<.!. .- '.T \. ■.'• ' : 2. Water as a Carrier:— '„ " *; -•■*■% -The 'cccoanut.% . '■„--..-,-- " "3.-Animals-.as Cariiers: 1 — . - w -- - - • ' •■ M^ s . tlßtoe ; 1 briers and* 'other-- 'berries. 1 , ■ Cloves {reference -made" to .Dutch" wishing ■ -.' i° make this-a .monopoly, but prevented % , by brtds caTryiTigK-Sesds 'together Sislanas).-^ ■ -?*£, °^S<^ Daily Times aiote : on ',- ! Blaejkoernes • verjixa*" -:Buttfei?r/'"- which, "stated that blackbirds,' by\carrying blackberry are causing.-a'lossin'Tafariaki of £0000 a year— good -pasture lacd 'being \ .covered with this uoxipus Tweed. •„ . " ' • ' -Horses, etc. , .'-^distribute-- 'see^fsr tfiroiiaa' r manure. Boys.- v distribute, "' .apple- ■ and cherry seeel, etc.-. " Another .'Time's, note." pa the clover burr in-.the^Oamaurdistrict -a("o made .use of bid-a^bids:..etc.7-distribut'ed ■ unconsciously. ' and sometimes stinwiHirigljoj',dogs. sheep,; human beings. ,'J4. Seeds Ejeciea r .or Thrown :— Peas'attdairißgumenslcu-'l pods dia«oTially; aud,,ihrow -seeds.- 3sote that Ihe „S rain . ,'*of -the woody fibre oi the- pod is diagoEa!. »■ Isn't it the violet "that at times :throw3»it3- seed '-several feet? ' *-, Can: readers ;;iupplv interesting dflr tails under fins heading? ' v \ -4 'TA*LE, J .OF;'-MAXir .AT7THOKS. -." This is, -taken ifuom an American paj«r for ladies.-- On a fortnight's rime I'll give the key to it: Tf.£ou oau, -supply, say, 35 of the names : — . . "'■. - " ' • Each .guest .on asrival-is given a sheet , of notepaper oa whiclv is ivpewnttxpi the following Hstory, sth ei sani^beingxto-nn in the blamr spaces with'jtlie name? of^authore, thus coinPleting^tfae^.ptorr., ? .- CAC A utkens given io the ;PW«<m-Aav^.;---(V-^«atWt- ! -r;inubev'oi''coriect .names..;- .- ->> , \-- .^vJ. j \.^^ r '^\^, - v . . .>; 4 '..^ '«'-> ' .iHtfsTbas.v^ '^esi^nce c£ - D .?, ct ??4W" .one-^Htlie^iJxettiesf- (2h"iti -th'a : ;yi!lage. - there. jwas ..a-glbw of.. excitement. -'"A" ' •ficfr; turkey, Jarfied. 'witU,- strips, 1 of -(3) laV tiY in the, 'oven- v f ".;- • . ~ , » \' { , J young 3iopeful "of the family,-' .■« .i' j!'wAtcliin^>ae 'turkey, .prepared, . " My, someone have •to 45) - like • the • (6) ' 'if J k*e eats-*tha^;%iz3afa." r ' ",ob> "dearl" -his 'aiatW': remarked,;" he (7) around so with his father's (8)- it is' enough to/ 'disturb*. the\ equilibrium - of the \9)." iAs a consequence a (10) -was tied on him and he was sent to a (U) back of the bouse to play with his sled. A -bright *iire (12) in the grate, and w;caf&s, of- 'W-decorate tlfe walls. The doctor, ivho :hacj *pent -maTiv' years in the; region of the "" rdzorDack,"' said, as he viewed the aecor'a? t lions,' rn&iex J diSn't -conslderi that .down (l4> as. jntfch -as we do here." ' .'J 5 r 'US) ' iiis (i6),. daughter^ was. to he zaarriear. The ;grj»oin was many years ' her senior. ~,& slim '■(17), and iumovir said in early life l h^3 been fig), though really good at (19). In youth-Jae ■-was (20) nn the 'Senate'; 'later 'he was a -,(21), once s a (22), now a (23) which"^ accouated for 'ihe better style of dress le ha&~ 'ately.-aaopted. /Hri-had grown (24) in backeldrhood. JOne -gossip had .said, '-'If that match" comes 'off, you can (25) down 'asunhappyt("26")."^ - ' ", TKT X \' '.'■ *~ '" '"\ The doctor ihad the "countenance of a- stone-* wall (27), -but in reality- was meek ,as a -'(58).' He had -received' an (29) lettir relative to ihe groom's questionable reputalion, but '-would only (30)' at it, 'nevertheless- he. did not let his wife ,(31) at. ,"I cannot./predict," said he, „ '" (32)* he is .going to do, but (33) it is 'for' the bast." \ , , The engagement ring 'had twice been' sent to ft because the diamond had fallen out — a -very bad oaten — and once ' the "engagement iad been (35) broken" because the ..groom -became (36) , aTjqut ssome'. trivial- Jtnatter.. ".The,"; bride's "mother' '• "worried " much, 'about <her-i aanghtefJs future .happiness:-"- A • (37) "expresv., sion .had .talien possession of 'her,, face. A's -a ' result, ot.'this mental .(38)1 -her (39) .locks wexf •" beginning to" show threads, of (40), ' f . -',■„' ■ :V X -"'WOREYJiANDV' '.": a , - '„ . "Worry lan(l*s..a wilderness', '}': *.''--■ n Where' mbireeoior flower >ill:groW,J V '■" WKere-rio sjinlxsam's sweet ' V ' : Cheerß,-the 'desert iplaiV, below. - , ~ Worryfolk are -sure to frown, ' .' - 'Be, the wea-Sier -■wha-t -it anay ; ° Keep in sight of Sunny dl*own, ' ~ '- C AEd-you-oaEnct*lose'the, way. , . . Hill ,i>a.ths .are the 'b3st,,you'll find, * , Sunshine falls on every Jand.; So, beware of .paths t<iat-/win&\. \ .Down the vale to, "Worry land. . .SMILE, Smile, once in a while— 'Twill make -your heart seem lighter;. Smile, once in -a,- while — 'Twill xnauke your pathway brighter. liife's a mirror : ii we smile, <Smiles come back to greet us; If we're frowning all the while, Frowns for ever meet ua. ISixosr Watermak-. The Telegraph Department notifies trafc code addresses for inland telegrams ii'ay now be 'registered. The fee for registration is as follows: — If -the code address is the same as that- on a cablegram, -103 per', annum ; if different,. £1 .per annum. The monthly fee v to cover both /registrations is iis.. . • ' - -Mr Norman,i of the JLondon firm of Ifbrm#ji and Beard .(builders .of the "Wellington. Town Hall organ), >who ih&s .refcurned Jx» Wellington 'from the, .south, .sees prospects, of -s. igood deal of. business "in Jfew .Zealand,; a.id .to that end will establish- a. branch} ageaoy in -the^.colony.- Mr ."Kgnnan tbs£ many of the organs >he inspected in( the 1 south have been" allowed to beooxne oui* of date. Several .churches contemplate! securing modern instruments, while orbe^ orgjns which .lend themselves to reconsfcruc'4 tior.> on modern lines are to receive atten-". .tiof in the near future.