BOYS AND GIRLS’ CLUBS

Taranaki Daily News, 23 March 1935, Page 24 (Supplement)

BOYS AND GIRLS’ CLUBS

ACTIVITY IN TARANAKI SUCCESS OF THE ALTON SCHOOL. An interesting review of the activities of the Boys .and Girls’ Agricultural Clubs movement in the Wellington district is given by Mr. A. J. Galpin, Palmerston North, fields division of the Department of Agriculture, in the February issue of the New Zealand Journal of Agriculture. This review shows that while the movement felt the difficulties of the times, another successful competitions season was recorded, as shown by the increased entries. That the movement could still grow despite economic obstacles, made it one that must be regarded as successfully filling a place in the education and home life of the younger generation. During the past three seasons the entries in the root competition were:—l93l-32, 705; 1932-33, 659; 1933-34, 613. Calf Club entries: —1931-32, 1481; 1932-33, 1607 and 1933-34, 1760. The small decrease in the root growing has been more than offset by the increase in the calf club entries. Last season South Taranaki took pride of place in both sections with 192 root crop entries and 449 calf competition entries. North Taranaki was fourth in roots with 84 entries but second in calfrearing with 350 entries. Entries from the other districts under review were:— Manawatu, roots 148, calves 227; Wanga-nui-Main Trunk, roots 143, calves 190; Southern Hawke’s Bay, roots 37, calves 150; Horowhenua, calves 150; Wairarapa, calves 251; Gisborne, roots 9, calves 36., The calf club movement has been established in Taranaki for a longer period than any other,part of the 'Wellington district, if not of the Dominion. That time has brought no lessening of the enthusiasm is shown by the fact that in nine years the number of entries in North Taranaki has increased from 35 to 350 and in South Taranaki from 155 to 449. It is considered that the steady increase in the number of competitors is proof that the principles of the movement interest and appeal to those eligible to compete. The sustained growth ,is a practised demonstratiofi of the interest and support given by parents and others interested in the welfare of the farming community. The splendid score cards handed in by many of the senior competitors in the judging competition are sufficient evidence that the competitions are a successful medium of inculcating the knowledge of the essential points of good stock, which can have only one result—better stock and better farmers. COMPETITIONS IN TARANAKI. As in previous years competitors in North Taranaki were allowed the choice of a mangel, carrot, or swede crop. To add further interest, Prizewinner Yellow Globe mangels and Matchless White carrots were grown experimentally to compare the relative yields of 22in and 18in rows. In swedes the comparison was between Superlative and disease-re-sisting Heming Swede. The trial was to be continued for a further season to verify the results obtained. The entries numbered 184, but only 84 plots reached the final judging. This heavy defection was caused principally by the incidence of heart rot in many of the mangel crops and by generally disappointing results iA the swede crop—the roots inade little development, the growth going into leafage and long. neck. The Trimble Shield for best Club work was won by the Tikorangi school Graham Caldwell (Warea school), with a yield of 68 tons lOcwt per acre of Matchless White carrots, was not only the winner of this competition, but also next in merit to the winner of the Stuart Wilson Cup awarded for the Dominion champion field crop. The winning crop in the mangel competitions was grown by Walter Baker (Pukearuhe), the variety being Prizewinner Yellow Globe, with a yield of I*2 tons lOcwt per acre. The fact that supplies of seed and manures could not be made a charge against the association caused considerable delay in deciding whether it were possible to run the competition, and it was pleasing to note that when this difficulty was given general publicity the following merchants showed in a very practical manner their interest and desire to co-operate in the continuance of the work by donating free of charge the necessary seed and fertiliseri Messrs. Hodder and Tolley, Cathie Dempster, Carter’s Ltd, Webster’s Ltd, Newton King Ltd, New Zealand Loan and Mercantile, Fanners’ Co-operative Society. In- the mangel-growing competition 36 plots were brought forward to the final judging with an average yield of 72 tons 3cwt per acre, which compares favourably with the record average of 73 tons 18cwt established in the previous season (193233). The winning crop was grown by Eva Gulliver (Whakamara), with a yield of 136 tons 17cwt per acre. The carrot-growing competition attracted 70 entries, of which 48 reached the final judging. In a variety trial with Webster’s Matchless White and Carter’s Orange Giant, both varieties did well, with Matchless White giving the greater yield on almost every plot. The average yields were as follows:' Matchless White, 51 tons Bcwt per acre; Carter’s Orange Giant, 45 tons 9cwt per acre.. A feature was the crop produced by Jean Williams (Meremere),. which represented a yield of 100 tons 19cwt per acre. In the Wanganui district, as in previous years mangels, carrots, and swedes were grown, and it is noticeable that, parallel with the growth of the calfrearing movement, there was a tendency for entries to fall away in these competitions, perhaps due to the rootgrowing competitions losing some of their novelty, as they had now been in operation for the past 14 years, whereas the calf clubs were a comparatively new and different sphere of activity. All plots were located in the school grounds, thus placing all entrants on a uniform basis and successfully overcoming the difficulties arising from soil variation. The fact that 97 per cent, of the entries reached the final judging was no doubt due to the greater measure of supervision possible. The effect of the additional supervision was reflected in the results obtained as the Henry Lane Shield awarded annually to the school in the Wanganui and Taranaki district gaining the highest aggregate was won by the Alton school after remaining for a very long period in the Taranaki area. The practical response from competitors was very gratifying. The number of plots entered was 147, of which 143 were judged. The highest yield per acre was 107 tons of mangels, 69 tons of carrots and 79 tons of swedes, the average being 43 tons of mangels, 40 tons of carrots and 47 tons of swedes.