THE AGRICULTURAL BIAS

Taranaki Daily News, 11 September 1934, Page 29 (Supplement)

THE AGRICULTURAL BIAS

SMALL SCALE FARM OPERATIONS. SCHEME AT STRATFORD SCHOOL. There is a judicious combination of laboratory science of dairying and practical farm conditions in the scheme in operation at the Stratford High School. The fostering of an agricultural bias in every pupil may be said to be the aim of the principal, Mr. A. H. R. Amess, and a survey of the system which he has built up reveals the soundness of the foundations being laid under his direction for the training of some of the future farmers of Taranaki. Every phase of modem dairy farming is covered by a comprehensive scheme on a small scale. The inside, or classroom work, which is done by practically every pupil in the school, includes a study of . agriculture and the science of dairying, from a standard text-book (written by the principal and the science master, Mr. H. C. Johnson), and of bookkeeping and the management of farm finance. Books are thus used in conjunction with the stock outside to give a thorough idea of the groundwork. This idea of combining the two, theory and practice, is followed wherever possible. Thus the pupils are instructed in the methods of making butter and cheese, for instance, and are by the courtesy of a neighbouring dairy . company allowed to visit the factory and see the actual processes, a valuable experience. For the purely dairying work the school is fortunate in possessing a high class, though small, herd of pedigree Friesian cows and a pedigree sire. The herd has been established by generous donations, and some of the cows and the herd sire, a rising three-year-old, have done well in the show ring. After milking, which owing to the smallness of the herd is done by hand, the milk is weighed and tested in the school laboratory and daib r records are kept. As the pupils also have access to a small pedigree Jersey herd on an adjoining property, and records of that herd are kept also, interesting comparisons of the two breeds are possible. Due importance is attached to a sound knowledge of dairy type iu the various breeds, and pupils are instructed accordingly. At school competitions arid special competitions at cattle club field days and the A. and P. Association’s show the school pupils have a splendid reputation for their abilities in this direction.

Forestry is recognised as a necessary complement to successful farming. About two acres is devoted to experiment in this connection, and pupils learn by practical experience the type of tree best suited for shelter-belts, etc. The trees are raised from seed and tended by the pupils until they reach maturity. Trees of widely varying types are chosen, and some are successful, some riot The growing of root crops is another side of farm work considered, and each year mangolds and turnips are produced for the farm stock. Hay is also cut and. stacked, but the area available is considered too small for ensilage, though its preparation is dealt with in class work. “Our outside laboratory” was the term applied by .Mr. Amess to the Stratford Demonstration Farm. “We have the right to look over this experimental area of about .200 acres at any time,” he said. “The pupils know exactly what is being done with each paddock, and the results of each experiment.” The school farm itself is about 20 acres in extent, comprising eight acres on the west side of Swansea Road and the balance on the eastern and northern sides of the school buildings. All the land is conveniently close/to the school, so that there is little time lost by classes in going from, one to the other. The whole area, though small, is laid out carefully and to the best advantage as to convenience and suitability for the stock. The provision of ample shelter is a special feature. On the eight-acre section, for instance, there is a small paddock sheltered on all sides which can accommodate all the stock comfortably in the roughest weather.