LEIGH.

Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, 1 July 1931, Page 5

LEIGH.

(Our Own Correspondent.)

WOMEN'S INSTITUTE.

The monthly meeting of the Omaha and Pakiri Women's Institute was held in the local hall on June 17th. In the absence of the president, Mrs Gozar whs in the chair. There was a ajood attendance, one new member biing admitted. Mrs W. F. Harper read a report upon her attendance as delegate at the Aucklaud Conference. Mrs Evans and Mrs Gozar contributed a duet A debate entitled "Should married women teachers be employed" caused some earnest discussion : the affirmative being presented by Mesdames Torkington and A. J. Matheson while Mesdames Evans and D. _ A'. Matheson prOvsented tho negative. After a "fierc " fight the latter won their point. Mrs W. F. Harper read a piper entitled "New Zealand Sea Birds", which was very interesting and instructive. Mrs Bathgate was in charge of the stall. The hostesses for the afternoon were Mesdames D. A. Matheson, Wilson, and Rosier.

* It is sometimes supposed that when a new garden is made on grass land by digging in the turf, the plants will ol> tain from that source all the food they are likely to require for some time. If it happens to be a dry summer they are almost <r&rtain to be starved. Turf certainly contains a supply of food when it is decomposed, but for its decomposition both moisture and time are necessary. Mucb, too, depends on whethei it is dug in as large slabs, or chopped up into small pieces I have fouud a piece of turf which has not uudergoue; disintegration six years utter it has been buried in rather a dry position. Ail that time, therefore, it lias contributed little to the plant food in he soil The effect of buried turf is most conspicuous in the thiid yea', or in some cases tiie second year. Ocr tailily i» the first year, it affords little, if any, assistance to the plants, and soiuo other supply of food should be I lovideii lor tbeiu. !