RAHOTU

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81898, 3 December 1906, Page 4

RAHOTU

FROM OUR OWN CORREbPONDENT. I 1 paid a visit to tiie school agricu'ural paddock the jtacr day, where I ua 3 shottii over tiie ground by the courteous headmaster, Mi j. T. Campbell. 1 as very much surpn ed at lie gteat amount ot woik ue.ne by the master and his pupils, ab-ut an acre ot rough paddock having- been trar.sioimed in.o various neat plot-, fjmc of whicj am ooking nice and yK'eii witii a variety of vegetables, whilst the others are for tanners 1 experimental plo-s, and are not yet planted. All th e work lius been done by the children, with the exception of the origina. ploughing and harrowing. T.ie ground i,»elf i- divided in.o nine exp-nmetnal plots, each half a chain, w.iicli it is the intention of thj master to sow with turnips, each plot being treated with different fettuisers, presented by Mr Newton King and some by Mr B. C. Aston. The results jf the experiments will be carefully noted, and a» the analyses f the fertilisers are known, some information of value to farmers iu the locality should be gained. The jther portion of the ground is divided inio twelve pots, each 30ft by 10ft, where Mr Campbell demonstrates to the children taa manner iu which tue seed should be sown, etc., after which the children repair to their respective plots, which a'e very neatly ktfpJ. The rows of radisl.es, turnips, onions etc., look good or indifferent, according as to whetner they have been fertilised or not, proving to the chi.dren the use A fertilisers. Room is provided in each plot for transplanting. There i- also a nicely laid out flower bed, tended solely by the girls. The chi-dren take kindly to the gardening, and are very much intgrestcd in the work. They ar e allowed to sell the produce. The results of the sales is kept in an account book bv the child and credited to toe particular plot. Although tiie garden waoq y commertced in September some sales have already been effected. Mr Campbell has obtained some chemicai apparatus with a view 1 0 showing the effect of nitrogen, oxvgen- etc., on plants. A Babcoi': 'tester liaalso been obtained, and the children will be given practical res u l sin milk testing. Tiie Education Department is to be commended for giving faci'ities for this u-eful work; and the RaLotu committee is to be commended, too, for taking it up so enthusiastically, whilst the headmaster and scholars are to be complimented 011 tne results of their labor.