166 .Journal of Agriculture. Victoria. [11 March, 1918. 



TEACHERS' SCHOOL AT BURNLEY, 1918. 



Though to-day the school teacher is not such an outstanding character 

 in our world that we wonder that one small head can carry all he knows, 

 still it is necessary for him who would be successful in his work to be, 

 as an English assayist has said, " superficially omniscient." In addition 

 to his equipment for instructing the youth in every-day educational 

 subjects, it is desirable that he should have a passing acquaintance with 

 the several sciences. A knowledge of botany or metallurgy may, perhaps, 

 afford a method of inculcating something useful, a talent for astronomy 

 will help him to transport his pupils from the sphere of grammar and 

 arithmetic to a wider world, and an acquaintance with agricultural 

 science will often enable the country teacher to give many a practical 

 lesson. Various avenues are open to the city teacher by which to obtain 

 this technical knowledge, but the country pedagogue must usually 

 acquire it in his leisure from text books without the aid of guide or 

 friend. 



In September, 1915, the Department of Agriculture arranged a 

 course of lectures on agricultural subjects at the State Research Farm 

 at Werribee. These lectui'es extended over five days, and were attended 

 by seventy country teachers. In January, 1917, a somewhat similar 

 course was delivered at the same place. 



This year, the Burnley School of Primary Agriculture was chosen, 

 in order that instruction in practical fruit-growing might be given. The 

 course, which was attended by twenty-three teachers from country 

 districts, lasted eight days, which means that those attending sacrificed 

 at least eight days of their vacation. 



The classes were formally inaugurated on the 21st January. In 

 the absence of the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Cameron, Director of 

 Agriculture, presided, and, in welcoming both visitors and teachers, 

 remarked that agriculture in some form is now being taught in 700 

 schools in Victoria. 



His Excellency the Governor-General, Sir K. M. Ferguson, in a 

 short speech, stressed the importance of securing, especially at this 

 juncture in the world's history, better methods of agricultural production 

 and marketing. In this respect Australia could learn much from the 

 more closely settled countries. His Excellency characterized the 

 Burnley gardens as one of the beauty spots of the metropolis, and 

 expressed the opinion that they should be linked up with the Botanical 

 Gardens and Richmond Park by inclusion in the Yarra improvement 

 scheme. 



Short addresses were also delivered by the Minister of Education, 

 Major Baird, M.L.A. ; and the Director of Education, Mr. Frank Tate. 



During the period of the school, in addition to practical demonstra- 

 tions in pruning in the orchard, lectures were delivered on the following 

 subjects : — 



Climate and soil conditions required for different classes of fruit. 

 Choice of trees for production of fruit for the table, canning 

 and drying. 



