THE FARM

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13893, 19 October 1918, Page 8

THE FARM

AGRICULTURAL EVENTS FOR WEEK ENDING OCT. 26. MONDAY. Cambridge stock Sale Paeroa Stock Sale Patetonga Stock Sale Clearing Sale at Xewstcad Clearing Sale at Matatoke TUESDAY. Rangiriri Stock Sales Taumarunui Stock Sale Morrinsville Stock Sale Pirongia Stock Sales .Mercury Hav Stock Sale 'IV Puke Stock Sale Hikutaia Horse Fair WEDNESDAY. Matamata Stock Sale Monavalc Stock Sale THURSDAY. Hamilton Stock Sales Pio Pio Stock Sale Clearing Sale at Lichfield "RIDAY. Morrinsville Stock Sale Ngaruawahia Stock Sal e SATURDAY. Te Awaimitu Stock Sales. Government Rate of Wages. The Weber County Council tak-s exception to the action of the Department of Public Works in refusing (o pay a subsidy on work done by the Council which gave a rate of more than lis per day for wages fur labour, and more than 36s per day for threehorse teams. It was stated that labour at that rate could not be obtained, and it was decided to ask the Department to pay the promised subsidy at once. Earmarked at Birth.

A peculiar phenomenon, which, if it could he perpetuated, would save farmers a deal of trouble, occurred at Mr F. Barratt's farm on the River Road. A calf was born there recently, with earmarks precisely after the fashion of the mother cow. Mr Barratt states that while he has seen many kinds of freaks in animal life, this is the first time he has known of a case where the earmark of the parent has appeared in the offspring. The Cattle Tick.

At a meeting of the Farmers' Union Executive held on Wednesday, Mr .lounneaux reported on the prospective steps to be taken in the North to combat the tick. He said that a dip was to he built by farmers, in conjunction with the new cattle yards at Oakley. This was a sequel to the recent conference of members of the Farmers' Union, representatives of auctioneering firms, iind Dr. C. J. Reakes. Buyers of cattle in the North will now be able to dip their cattle if they so desire. The executive confirmed the action, and decided to write to branches of the Union in the Auckland province for more data on the subject. The Rabbit Pest.

The Department of Agriculture has advised the Fanners' Union that rabbit poison will be supplied free for use on absentee soldiers' sections provided the local rabbit extermination committees supplied the necessary labour. The tields inspectors of the Department are handing the matter. Details should consequently be supplied to them.

THE HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL. The students taking the agricultural course visited Ruakura State Farm on Tuesday in charge of the agricultural master, Mr T. H. Patterson, JI.D.A. The boys were taken around the plots, and the various experiments were explained by Mr Roche, the horticulturist. These visits are made periodically to tin 1 farm, and one section of the work studied at each visit. The students, by this means, add to their field knowledge, which is co-ordinated with their indoor agricultural science. The Hamilton High School is thereby specially favoured in having the Government Farm so near to supplement the work done in the school plots. THE MERCANTILE MARINE. PATRIOTIC WOOLGROWEHS. reference to the pro]x>sal that New Zealand sheepowners should acknowledge their indebtedness to the British Navy and the seamen of the mercantile marine by diverting their portion of any surplus on wool which may later he distributed by the Imperial Government to the above fund the following owners in this district have signified their willingness to fall in with the proposals:— Raglan County.—Messrs Chas. Coats, Ruakiwi; Cole-Baker Bros. Port Waikato; Featherstonnaugh Bros., Waitetuna; Herbert A. Hawke, Pukekawa; Arthur F. Annandale. Glen Murray; J. Harrow, Waingaro: Alfred Eyre, Pepepe; H. B. Sorhv. Glen Murray; C. H. Swee.tman. Te Uku; Wm. Thomson, Aotea; .). I? Aitken, Waitetuna; J. R. Cogswell Waitetuna; W. E. Langford, Pukekawa; Thos. E. Ward, Aotea.

Waipa County.—Messrs R. G. Speake, Pukerimu; RoWt Hawkins Hamilton; R, H. Nicholson, Te Kowhai; George Way, Tamahere; C. B Vickers, Tuhikaramea. Piako County.—R. J. Maiscy, Matamata; A. Orr, Morrinsville; Thomas A. Drummond, Tamahere; Alfred Tot man, Okoroire railway. Matamata County.—Messrs das. W Anderson, Piarerc; W. B. Franklin Rukuhia ; John V. Simpson, Matamata Waikato County.—Messfs Thos Martin, Rototuna; J. Loughlin, Ham ilton; D. Shanks, Mangntangi. MILKING SHORTHORNS.

At a meeting of the council of the New Zealand Milking Shorthorn Association, at Palmerston, the secretary reported inter alia that entries for Vol. 111. of the Herd Book totalled GIJOO--5890 females and 410 bulls. The membership had reached 500. Tin inspection of the South Island entries was not completed, and a number wen still to be inspected in the Waikalo am! North Auckland districts. A letter id thanks for special prizes of .t 10 10s was received from the Waikato A. and P. Association. The president referred to the prizes offered last year amounting to 21 guineas for the highest certificates in semi-official tests. Up to the present the best certificate handed in was for Mr S. Morgan's cow Willowbank Beauty, mature class, which had produced C55.221b of butter-fat. 157.81b of milk. Mr Morgan was heartily congratulated on his success. A letter was received from the New Zealand Cadle Breeders' Federation giving the result of the preliminary conference held on September 12 in Palmerston, when the proposals for forming the Federation had been adopted, and submitted a draft of the proposed objects and asked that each association appoint two delegates to attend the' next conference to draft rules, elect officers, etc. The objects as submitted were approved, and it was decided to elect two delegates at the annual meeting to be held during Show Week The annual meeting of the Association was fixed for Wednesday, October :tO. at Palmerston North. Reference was made to the services rendered by Mr B. Nelson, secretary M the Waikalo Executive id' the Association, and a. bonus id' £25 was voted him for the assistance rendered.

The treasurer reported that the funds were in a very sound position, and they had now £IOOO invested in the War Loan and £2OO on tlxed deposit. The annual meeting of members will be asked to vote £SO for patriotic purposes and will also discuss the proposal to institute an annual competition for the best three-year-old heifer in milk. The consideration of the entries for Vol. 111. of the Herd Book was completed, and the work of compiling and issuing this volume is to be commenced immediately.

THE SECONDARY SCHOOL AND AGRICULTURE.

(By "Blucgum.") It is very gratifying to read Mr de la Mares' article on Education in the secondary schools. He cherishes apparently a great love for the classics, hut with an open mind he welcomes the advent of the "modern side" in our high schools. There is a growing percentage of the hoys that enter our high schools, who do not take kindly to the languages—either ancient or modern. Must these boys be looked upon with disfavour? The boys who elect to take up the sciences arc often the Cinderellas of the high school. Why should they he? There is no good reason advanced for this attitude. Unfortunately, we find teachers of the classics often look upon

"the modern side" as not educational, and contend that it should have no place in the high school.

Gut off as young New Zealand is from the Old World, its problems are necessarily different. It is a country of primary production, and will be for years to come. A Rugby, an Eton, or a Harrow will not meet the needs of high school education in our Dominion. When peace at last comes to a war-weary world, there will he a tremendous stimulus given to all classes of primary production. There will he much leeway to make up. and a hungry world to feed for a long time. Now. technical and vocational education must receive greater attention. The high school ami the technical college will have to supply the training. Jn the high school English mathematics, history and geography will fulfil the alms and objects of general culture, while added to these business subjects will prepare boys or girls for commercial vocations, agriculture, and sciences allied to agriculture, for rural life, and domestic science will fit our girls for the homes. Of course, students entering the medical, legal and other professions will take the classical course. There is room for all courses, and there is no good reason why those taking "the classics" should be the darlings if the gods in our high schools. The agricultural and commereral callings both offer scope for brilliant young men. In the words of Dr. Saunders, Principal of Ouelph Agricultural College, Canada, this fact is strongly brought before our minds. "Farming is no longer looked upon as a drudgery, suited to the dull and slow-going, but is now regarded as a sutiable field for the higher intelligence of cultivated minds. It is recognised as a calling requiring much skill to conduct it successfully and is giving scope for the exercise of the most attractive and earnest minds."