156 president's address — section g. 



circular in April, 1890, by order of the Hon. J. H. Carruthers, 

 M .P., then Minister for that department, from which the following 

 extracts are taken : — 



" The Minister for Public Instruction is anxious that the lessons 

 given in the public schools should be of as practical a character as 

 possible. He has therefore decided that in future teachers be 

 invited to give special attention to agriculture and horticulture. 



" Instructions in these subjects can best be given in the form of 

 object lessons, and you will find that it is so provided for in the 

 revised standards of proficiency. 



" The lessons might take up the work in three stages, thus — 



"■ First stage — The principles influencing the supply of plant 

 food in the soil, the necessity for cultivation, and the 

 circumstances making tillage more or less effective. 



"Second stage — The principles regulating the more or less 

 perfect supply of plant food ; manures, as supplemental 

 sources of plant food. 



" Third stage — The principles regulating the growth of crops, 

 and the variations in their yield and quantity. 



" With a view of encouraging teachers in giving practical illustra- 

 tions indicated, the Minister has decided to give annually a bonus to 

 ■each teacher wdio has results to show. The bonus will vary from 

 £1 to £5, according to the quantity and quality of the work done." 



There are at the present time in our public schools many teachers 

 who take a keen interest in agricultural matters, and are well able 

 to teach theoretically, and in some cases practically also, the princi- 

 ples of agriculture. During the year 1«91 the l30nus referred to 

 was earned by eight j'-eight teachers, but I hope yet to see a much 

 greater number of the country teachers undertaking the practical 

 education of their pupils in the working of small gardens and 

 experimental plots in connection with their schools. This plan has 

 I)een found most effective in France, and did immense good at the 

 ■critical period of the agricultural history of Ireland, imbuing the 

 children with a love of nature, and different operations of tilling 

 the ground, and teaching them to think of the reasons that prompt 

 those operations on the farm. 



The important subject of tree-planting has also been recognised 

 by the institution of Arbor Day in our schools, and the reasons for 

 it are thus set forth in a circular by Mr. E. Johnson, the Under- 

 Secretary : — "The improving of school grounds by tree-planting is 

 recognised as a work of educational importance. By such means the 

 school will be made attractive, and an interest in nature and a love for 

 the beautiful will be stimulated and encouraged among the pupils. 

 In time, also, the summer shade, so necessary in our climate, will be 

 provided for the children, and thus the general comfort and happi- 

 ness of their school life will be promoted. Much useful knowledge 

 respecting the nature and growth of plants will, moreover, be 

 •obtained by the pupils ; and, from working to improve their school 



