MARION TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8799, 29 April 1907, Page 3

MARION TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

Agricultural Science,

At the meeting-of Marion Branch Of Fanners’ Union on Saturday the ; chair n, Mr Edward Newman, took the opportunity of saying something about the neW technical school l at Marion, He djvelt on the importance of every young fanner taking a coarse of instruction in agricultural science. It was now almost essential, in order to be a successful farmer, to get a scientific training and he hoped many farmers would ' join the technical class. It would be mostly laboratory work but students who are engaged in fanning will , have the opportunity of ; experiments at home. The first subject to be dealt with would be tne i ‘-‘ soils” aud the humus, clay, ® ancl , 1 etc., would be investigated as far as j the scope of the Laboratory wouffi . permit. Experiments, would also b 0 conducted for the purpose, of deterI mining the compositions of soils, ! to show the amount of lime and.phosI phoric acid contained. Short loc--1 Hires would also be given on the t quality aud textures Of soils. Plants i would be dealt with experimentally. ! Students would be taught to ascerI tain the percentage of water, vege- ! table and mineral matter iu the plant ! under examination. Short lectmes I would be given in botany, on the root, stein, leaves, etc., of plants aud the effects of growing certain plants on certain soils would he explained. Lectures would, if possible, be given on the principles of the application of manures. The course indicated is the one approved by the English Education Department for Technical and secondary Schools. Mr Newman said these lectures would be given by Mr Grant, a trained expert aud enthusiast on the subject and lie urged all young farmers desiring to excel iu business to attend the classes and make the school a success. He said that all over the world this snbject-Was being taken up aud they must keep pace with the times or fall out of the rank of successful people. ' (Applause. )