TEACHERS’ FARM SCHOOL AT RUAKURA.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XVIII, Issue 2, 20 February 1919, Page 100

TEACHERS’ FARM SCHOOL AT RUAKURA.

Another successful farm school for teachers was held at the Ruakura Farm of Instruction, from 20th to 24th January. The school followed generally on the lines of last year’s initial gathering, being organized under the auspices of the Auckland Education Board by Mr. J. P. Kalaugher, Supervisor of the Manual and Technical Branch, in cooperation with the Department of Agriculture. Forty-five men and seventeen women teachers attended throughout the course, and many others visited the school. The course of lectures and demonstrations included the following : —

By officers of the Department of Agriculture : —Lucerne and other Forage Crops ; Shorthorns and Jerseys (A. W. Green, Manager, Ruakura Farm of Instruction) : Lime and Experimental Work at Wallaceville (B. C. Aston, Chemist) : Pastures (A. H. Cockayne, Biologist) : Plant-propagation ; • Shelter Hedges (W. H. Taylor, Horticulturist) : Diseases of the Cow Dissection of the Cow (W. T. Collins, Veterinarian): Herd - testing ; Dairy Sanitation (W. Dempster, Dairy Instructor) : Orchard Work (L. Paynter, Orchard Instructor) : Poultry (C. Cussen, Poultry Instructor) : Potatoes ; Plant-breeding (J. Beverley, Assistant Agriculturist) : . Bees (A. B. Trythall, Apiarist, Ruakura) : Kitchen-garden (T. B. Roach, Horticultural Overseer, Ruakura). By Education Board’s Instructors in Agriculture: — Weeds and Farm Crops Lime (R. P. Connell) : Farm Crops Manures (F. R. Callaghan) : Insects (J. J. Stevenson) : Dairy Science (W. Hudson). By Inspectors of Schools :—Correlation of Nature-study and Agriculture with other School Subjects (N. R. McKenzie) ; School-garden (N. T. Lambourne) ; School Agriculture and the Farming Community (J. W. Mcllraith) ; Rural Course Work in the District High School (M. McLeod).

Addresses were also given on “ Beef Cattle versus Dairy Cattle,” and “ Friesians,” by Messrs. R. Reynolds and C. C. Buckland, of Cambridge, respectively. An auxiliary evening programme at Hamilton included demonstrations in fruit and vegetable bottling by Miss A. B. Juniper, Organizer of Domestic Science under the Education Board.

Due time and opportunities were afforded the participating teachers to view the whole range of the many-sided Ruakura establishment and its seasonal operations (or such sections they were specially interested in) for observational purposes. Several improvements in organization and method suggested by last year's experience were given effect to with good results in connection with this year’s school.

The school was brought to a close by a social gathering at the homestead, on the invitation of Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Green, when about 125 persons were entertained to afternoon tea.

The French Mission and New Zealand Agriculture. — During the stay of the Mission in the Dominion special measures were taken by the Department to well acquaint the agricultural representative, M. Henri Corbiere, with our agriculture in its various branches. A series of visits to representative farms, breeding. establishments, &c.., chiefly, in the Wellington and Canterbury Districts (owing to the limited time available), was arranged, Dr. Reakes, Director-General of Agriculture personally accompanying M. Corbiere on most occasions. Special written information was also prepared by the Department for M. Corbiere and the Mission generally.

■ Injurious Insects in New Zealand. — Our injurious insect fauna is comprised not 1 only of exotic forms but also of some indigenous species which have forsaken their natural food-supply for the more succulent products of the settler. Of these insects 82 per cent, are exotic and only 18 per cent, indigenous. Most of the former originated from Europe, and a few from Australia, North America, Pacific islands, and South Africa. The greatest number are orchard pests, but are held in check by rigorous spraying methods ; • about 22 per cent, affect live-stock and man, but cause no appreciable loss in New Zealand stored products and household goods are attacked by about 21 per cent. Field and vegetable crops are damaged by about 19 per cent., and, although this is the smallest group, the greatest loss probably occurs amongst these crops, due, perhaps, not only to there being no legislation necessitating the control of these insects as in the case of some of the other groups, but also to the comparative absence of information regarding them. David Miller, Entomologist. ■ ... .