ESTIMATION

Timaru Herald, Volume CXL, Issue 20261, 9 November 1935, Page 11

ESTIMATION

A BIG HURDLE IN FIRST CLASS TESTS Estimate, with apparatus, distance, numbers, height and weight within 25 per cent, error. Rather a tough proposition at first glance; but not really so hard when you tackle it properly. The “without apparatus" frightens some Scouts, but this does not stop you from using a pencil, a piece of paper, or a Scout stave, to assist you to judge your distance. Numbers Let us take numbers first. The Chief Scout says “You should be able to tell at a glance about how many there are In a group, or in a bus, or in a big crowd; how many sheep in a flock; how many marbles on a tray etc.” The only way to attain proficiency Is by using the unit method. Now, the first opportunity you have of being near a group or a crowd of people, count off ten of them, carefully notice how much space they occupy if they are bunched together, or in a queue. Do not be in a hurry, get the picture thoroughly in your mind's eye, then see how many similar groups there are in the whole. Practise this same unit method with all ordinary things you are likely to meet. Those who live in towns are more likely to, meet with people than sheep. In this test you will find it a great advantage to know your own personal measurements, especially when estimating the number of small articles, such as marbles, potatoes, eggs, and so on. If you know by practice that so many go to one inch or one foot, and you have a known inch or foot in your personal measurements, the matter becomes very simple. Tackle this one section and satisfy yourself you can do it before going on to the next. Distances Now for distances. Here again you must know some unit which you yourself possess to be at all successful. What is the length of your pace? How far can you walk in an hour? Can you be sure of correctly covering a mile in twelve minutes at Scout Pace? Let us go into these questions. To correctly measure your pace, set out on a level stretch, 99 feet, then pace in your ordinary step from one end to the other. Divide the number of paces taken into 99, and this will give you the length of your pace in feet. You should do this at least six times from each end, and take the average.

You will then have a true measure of your pace. It is not always possible to pace a distance, so you must get accustomed to estimating unit distances, as 50 yards, 100 yards, halfmile, and mile, by vision only. This is done by finding two points at these distances apart and getting thoroughly accustomed to them. Do not try any artificial aids; justs get these units firmly ingrained in your mind. To get to know such distances as these, use telegraph posts for 50 and 100 yards, look up a large scale map of your district, measure by cyclometer or milestones for the longer distances. A church spire or factory chimney for one spot and a clear view for the other are useful to accustom you to visualise the longer distances. A few of the usual lengths met with in sport ar9 useful aids. A full-size association football ground is 120 yards long and 80 yards wide. Rugby football ground, 110 yards long and 75 yards wide. Lawn tennis court, single size, 78 feet long by 27 feet wide, whilst a double court is 36 feet wide. A cricket pitch is 22 yards long between stumps. As regards your distance for an hour’s walk, simply time yourself over a measured distance, checking both ways, walk in a natural way, not stretching your pace to break a record. '(To Be 6ontinued.) THRIFT This is what the Chief Scout, Lord Baden-Powell says about thrift—the ninth clause of the Scout Law. “A scout is thrifty, that is he saves every penny that he can, and puts it into the bank, so that he may have money enough to keep himself when out of work, and thus not make himself a burden to others; or that he may have the money to give away to others when they need it." Now what about practising thrift in connection with your Troop’s annual camp this year. Start saving all your odd pence and take it along to the Den with you and give it to your Scouter for safe keeping. He may already have a Troop Bank. If not, get him to start one. Then when the time for camp comes you have a nice little sum already for use to pay your camp expenses. Start saving to-day! DID YOU KNOW: That there are over 65,000 Scouts and Cubs in Canada. The Canadians are trying to bring their numbers up to 100,000. Good luck to them! The fellow who complains that he is not getting enough is usually not giving enough. There is much to be done and perhaps you are weak handed, but stick to it steadily and you will see great effects for it was by diligence and patience that the mouse ate in to the cable.