TRAINING BOYS FOR THE LAND

Taranaki Daily News, 16 October 1931, Page 11

TRAINING BOYS FOR THE LAND

SCOPE OF AGRICULTURAL WORK. NEW PLYMOUTH SCHOOL REVIEW. Notable developments in the scope of the agricultural work done by pupils at the New Plymouth Boys’ High School were outlined by Mr. J. W. Connell, instructor of agriculture at the school, to a News representative yesterday. So that the boys taking the course might have as much work of a practical nature as possible, and obtain a good knowledge of stock, said Mr. Connell, arrangements had. been made whereby officers of the New Plymouth office of the Department of Agriculture at various times assist with demonstrations and lectures of a thoroughly practical nature. In addition visits had been made to farms where good pedigree breeds of animals were kept. As there were several excellent herds in close proximity to New Plymouth, the boys had had the opportunity of studying at first hand representatives of the various breeds.

During August the boys were present at, and assisted with, the docking of lambs belonging to the Taranaki Jockey Club. Mr. Grant, who was in charge of the work, used the searing iron instead of the knife ns that method had much to commend it. The demonstration was keenly followed. Last Tuesday Mr. F. W. Sutton, of the Department of Agriculture, had given an interesting demon | ration on the school farm. Mr. Sutton first showed how to kill a calf so as to eliminate as far as possible unnecessary pain to the animal. He proceeded- to skin the calf, explaining fully his reasons for making certain cuts to produce a good-shaped skin with as little waste as possible. He dealt with the method of salting and storing the skin. After an examination of the more important internal organs had been made, Mr. Sutton demonstrated the method of removing' the fourth stomach of the calf —the veil—from which rennet was obtained for use in the manufacture of cheese.

On a previous occasion Mr. Sutton had lectured to the boys on calf-rearing, management and diseases. On another occasion Mr. J. M. Smith and Mr. Haynes, officers of the department, had given a lantern lecture on pasture management. Mr. Smith used his collection of slides and dealt in an instructive manner with some of the phases of pasture management in Taranaki. The portion of his address dealing with the clearing of rough bush country and the subsequent steps in the establishment and management of suitable types of pasture was listened to with special interest. The information given, said Mr. Connell, should prove of value to those contemplating farming in that class of country. Recently the boys had visited the farm of Air. H. H. Olson, breeder and judge of Ayrshire cattle. Great interest had been taken in Mr. Olson’s three-year-old bull Credholme Top Grade, which he obtained last year from Canada. The bull was bred on the Credholme stock farm, Ontario, but both his sire and his dam were born in Scotland. Later, Mr. Olson demonstrated the points of the bull, several cows and calves, and a short judging competition was held, after which Mr. Olson criticised the decisions of the boys.