INTENSIVE CULTIVATION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14986, 13 August 1919, Page 8

INTENSIVE CULTIVATION.

CHILDREN'S COMPETTTIONS.

Hearty approval' is given by the Hon. iD. H. Guthrie to the suggestion that an .. agricultural competition for boys and girls should be organised on national lines. "The effort to stimulate intensive ►cultivation of the soil is deserving of the highest commendation," he said; as it staits 'with the youthful section .- who ' eventually will bedome occupiers 'and workers of the soil. The scheme,,- as long as it proceeds on sensible dines, should receive every support locally -arid nationally. It is based on the system of boys' agricultural cjiubs establishefd m some - of the ; American States,_ :where the effect 'of competitions .yri agriculture m general has far exceed-! od the most sanguine expectations of those engaged m pfopag'aiida jwiork. The competitions that are suggested appear to me to be really a matter for the Education Department, associated when pOs- v sihle, with the Departments of Lands and Agriculture. If these three ipepartments, working m earnest co-opera-tion, would apply their- influence to secure^ agricultural develonmeht "and 'in-< tensive production tliey would be' well repaid by the betterment of New Zealand as a whole. ..*■'•

"Indeed, it is -surprising- that not unI til'now-.inWe some. portions of. the Dominion .begun to' wake up .to' the necessity, of being paid - to.-th ose; vital factors m the national prosperity. In some districts, notably the'. Wanganui Education District, agricultural educa^ tiqn has received . attention for - the past 10 or 15^ years, .'with the result that today, agricultural instructors are recognised as experts, and are constantly being .approached for advice, even by farmers who formerly: had no tjme at all for -ideas.-' It must be recognised that the proposal to inaugurate agricultural competitions for young peo : pie, on the lines advocated by the Otago Expansion Leagtie is only one of the levers that may be used to.iprpciire better and rtiore' productive farming m any locality.. ;, It is a method, of getting scien-* tific knowledge l' into the- minds of the fnrmer of the. future,; and of providing, the. farmers of to-day Avith . practical de-i monstrations of means -by which- their lan'df.cah be made to yield greatly increased returns." . ' ■■-