510 



Rural Education in Wales. 



[Sept., 



and consequently, in adapting the school curriculum, only those 

 parts of a physics syllabus were retained that were essential to 

 a boy's general training and had definite application to agricul- 

 ture. Botany and elementary Animal Biology were also 

 introduced. 



Only a brief outline of the plan of study can be given here. 

 The science course in Form II (first year) consists of lessons in 

 experimental science, which includes physics and chemistry; 

 and nature study, comprising plant and animal life. In 

 Form III (second year) the experimental science course deals 

 with the factors bearing on soil temperature ; the chemistry 

 course includes experimental studies of air and water ; and the 

 botany class studies seeds, roots, stems and leaves; while the 

 outdoor work includes pruning. The agricultural science class 

 studies the soils and crops of the school district ; the animal 

 biology work deals with the structive and life history of insects, 

 bird life, moles and voles, with their enemies the stoat and the 

 weasel ; and cultural work on the germination of seeds. 



In Form IV the botany syllabus includes a study of the nutri- 

 tion of plants, practical outdoor work on the vegetative reproduc- 

 tion of plants, and the raising of seeds of mangolds and swedes 

 from the best representatives in the plot. Agricultural science 

 work comprises a study of the physical properties of soils, the 

 effects of the various tillage operations on the soil, plant food, 

 manures, types of farm crops, and the composition of milk. 

 Collections of local soils and subsoils are made, and culture 

 work in plots is carried out. 



Form V (fourth year) chemistry includes a study of sulphur 

 and nitrogen compounds, and the manufacture of nitrate of 

 lime .and its use as a fertiliser. The agricultural botany work 

 deals with seeds of grasses and clovers ; the fungi causing various 

 diseases are investigated and methods of prevention and treat- 

 ment shown. In the outdoor work, the spraying of potatoes and 

 fruit trees is undertaken, and at the invitation of the local Food 

 Production Committee the school has organised the spraying of 

 potatoes in the district. Agricultural science work deals with 

 the manufacture and composition of manures, soil improvement, 

 crops and their relation to the soil in which they grow, as well 

 as the chemical changes occurring in plants, feeding stuffs, 

 nutrition of animals and plants, farmyard manure, chemistry of 

 the dairy, and cultural work in plots. 



In addition to the general science scheme outlined above, other 

 subjects of school study are given a rural application. Arith- 



