BOYS' AGRICULTURAL CLUBS

Otago Witness, Issue 3442, 2 March 1920, Page 11

BOYS' AGRICULTURAL CLUBS

PROBLEM OP DECLINING PRODUCTION. WELLINGTON. February 28. Mir Stuart Wilson, emphasising the importance of the scheme put forward for the establishment of boys' agricultural clubs, points to the continued fall in production disclosed by the figures recently published by the Government Statistician, who has called attention to the reduction of nearly 800,000 in our flocks. Our principal exports show a decline in quantity disguised by the high prices ruling. The "yield per acre of the chief crops has tended to drop during the last 10 years, as shown by the following official figures. In the ten years' period, 1908 to 1918 the production of wheat declined from 54.75 bushes',? to 24.23 ner acre; oats, from 46.46 to 31.64; barley, from 39.67 to 30.15; potatoes, 6.52 tons to 4.33 tons. There had been seasonal fluctuations, but the tendency has" been steadily downward. The figures have grave significance! for the country. The boys' agricultural clubs' scheme, which has' been, warmly approved by prominent people, offers a practical means of "increasing production by encouraging the young men farmers of the future to study and practise the best and most modern methods of raising stock and crops. The scheme has been successful in the United States, and ;a already operating in Otago and in the Buller County. Mr Wilson urges that the Agricultural Department should reorganise" the scheme, which should be puished in th«» North Island.