LEACH] NATURE-STUDY AND FIELD WORK' 225 



public of the district attended, so that much interest was aroused. 



The next big excursion was to the famous canon of the Werribee 

 River, where it has carved a narrow, deep gorge partly in a 

 Carboniferous glacial deposit. This was limited to 600 children 

 of classes V and VI from Ballarat schools, and the inspectors and 

 teachers. These were divided into twelve sections. A member 

 of the nature-study class took charge of each section, conducted 

 it to each of the previously selected twelve geological features 

 and led the pupils to see the meaning of each. Over 800 

 attended. 



Our last excursion for this year was at Hanging Rock, a re- 

 markable and popular picnic resort about 40 miles from Mel- 

 bourne and seven miles from a railway. Over 1000 attended, 

 coming from all points of the compass. Many farmers suspended 

 ploughing in a potato district so that their men and themselves 

 could attend. 



The leading daily newspapers of the state give very good press 

 notices, and the illustrated weeklies often publish a full page of 

 views so that great inquiry has been aroused in local features. 

 No longer do all the wonders dwell elsewhere. 



In addition to the Friday's work, the teachers meet on Satur- 

 day for three hours' work in the field. The Friday is not re- 

 garded as a holiday, for teachers who attend on Friday are also 

 expected to attend on the Saturday morning. 



On Saturday we usually meet close to a school and then do 

 ordinary everyday nature-study, so that Avhile a teacher might 

 possibly object that the Friday's work was of little direct value to 

 him because a special locality with features on a large scale (so 

 all can see) is alwavs chosen and his school district mav not 

 contain similar features, still he must admit that his district is at 

 least as good and generally is better than the district where we 

 work on Saturday. 



Having teachers only, questions are asked, methods criticised 

 and difficulties removed, so that for direct results the Saturday's 

 work is of more immediate value to the teacher than the Friday's, 

 but still the Friday's work is worth doing for it stimulates a 

 district. 



Next year we shall try to reduce the numbers a little, but all 

 depends on the features. It is easier to manage 1000 at some 

 places than 20 at others where things are on a small scale. Some 



