FARM AND DAIRY CLASSES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13536, 12 October 1907, Page 3

FARM AND DAIRY CLASSES.

WORK AT STRATFORD SCHOOL. i AN INTERESTING REPORT. The Stratford School authorities have submitted an exhaustive report to the Education Board regarding the agricultural, classes being conducted at the District High School. The repdrt states : — : ' We look on agriculture and dairying as subjects of great importance in this district. The practical as well as the theoretical side of the subjects has been attended to, the bearing of the one on the other as been shown. Experiments have been made and carefully watched and noted. The subjects have been treated in isuch a way as to be of the greatest value to the children — both educationally and practically. In dairying the course of the work taken has been as nearly complete as it is possible to take the subject in a school class. In agriculture the results of practical experiments are given in detail. A demonstration plot was used in which peas, beans, cabbage!, and most of the ordinary kinds of vegetables were grown. Children's individual plots were ' attempted, but the only ground available was the site of an old dairy factory. This proved barren and useless, and the plots were therefore abandoned. A good deal of interest was taken in the farmers' plots. The ground was of very poor quality indeed. Experiments in growing turnips, mangolds and carrots were carried out. The treatment as recommended by Mr Aston, chemist to the Agricultural Department, was generally adopted. The experiments in practical agriculture were carried out under the supervision of Mr R. McK. Morison, the Board's instructor in agriculture, and the chemistry lectures were given by Mr J. Hunter, M.A., first assistant master in the school. In growing turnips experiments were mado with superphosphates, superphosphates and basic slag, bone dust and superphosphates, bone dust, superphosphates and kainit, and special turnip manure. The section on which no manure was used raised a crop of 4 tons 12 cwts per acre, and the manure grounds show a remarkable increase at little cost. One and a half cwt of superphosphates per acre increased the crop to 25 tons 13 cwt at a cost of 8s 3d per acre for fertiliser, or an approximate cost of 4s 7d per ton td produce ; 1$ cwt each of superphosphates and basic slag, 25 tons 6 cwt at 15s per acre or 8s 7d per ton; Jcwt bone dust and 2 cwt [ superphosphates, 37 tons 9 cwt, at 16s 3d per acre or 5s 8d per ton ; |cwt bone dust, 2 cwt superphosphates and.&cwt kainit 38 tons 5 cwt at 18s 9d an acre or 6s 7d per ton; special turnip manure (3 cwt), 27 tons 5 cwt at £1 2s 6d per acre or 12s 2d per ton. The results of the experiments should give a clear idea of the comparative values of the manures used. • The crop of mangolds was planted late in the season and in' very dry weather. The seed germinated well, but many of the plantlets faded, though single specimens of the vegetable matured splendidly. The crop as a 1 whole was for comparative purposes a failure. Similar manures were used in connection with the carrots, the yield being increased from 9 tons, 17 cwt, 2 qrs, 23 lbs with no manure to 15 tons, 14 cwt,

1 qr, 15 > lbs, by manuring with superphosphates, bone dust and potash. *he most satisfactory results, however, wore obtained with superphosphates and bone dust, the crop weighing 14-11-2-22, and the cost of production per ton 2s Bd, being little more than half that with the experiment with the three manures mentioned. The report goes on 16 describe the work that has been done in the chemistry department, and afterwards touches on dairying. This subject was tajcon by Mr A. 11. Galland, 8.A., assistant n aster in the secondary department of the school. Lessons were given . n the con-position of the milk, wa£er, fat, variation in quality during milkm?;, bacteria, effect of temperature, t,«-i mination, fermentation, sterilization, keeping and cooling of milk, physical condition of the cow, importance of good pasture and good water, flavours end odours due to improper feeding. By the courtesy of the Chief Dairy Commissioner, Miss Breen, an expert in bi.tter making, visited the school 1v ice during the year and gave instruction in practical butter making. She took the children through a course .>f wojk. including the testing^of the milk, hx tter fat, separating or skimming n>ilk, churning and butter making.