1920.] 



BUBAL Education in Walks. 



511 



metic includes problems dealing with farming practice such as 

 the measurement of stacks, areas of fields, and valuation of 

 manures from the percentages of composition. Later, it is hoped 

 to introduce a section dealing with the mechanical principles 

 underlying the construction and working of farm implements 

 and machines. In geography, the school district forms the first 

 area of general study, and the boys are instructed in the use of 

 ordnance maps. Rainfall, barometer and thermometer readings 

 are taken in connection with the School Meteorological Station, 

 and the relation between the climate of the neighbourhood and 

 local farming operations is noted. Efforts are made to 

 stimulate interest in woodwork by the construction of models 

 that are of direct agricultural interest, such as nesting boxes 

 and beehive frames. A rural trend is also given to such subjects 

 as drawing. English literature, history (including the history of 

 agriculture), Welsh and Latin. 



The school garden is well stocked, and is especially useful for 

 the practical study of insect pests and measures of control. The 

 students take part in the operation cf planting, and are taught 

 the operations of pruning, grafting and budding of fruit trees. 

 Numerous experiments are carried out. some of which are 

 designed to illustrate the effects of various fertilisers on different 

 crops, while others show the results of sowing seeds at various 

 times and at different depths. The remainder have reference to 

 such subjects as continuous cropping and a comparison of 

 varieties of potatoes with regard to crop production and immunity 

 from disease. Practical studies are made of mangolds, sugar 

 beet, parsnips, carrots, swedes, turnips, oats, barley and rye. 

 all of which are grown in the school plot. Records of 

 all experiments are kept by the students, who are allowed to 

 enter the plot at any time for the purpose of making observa- 

 tions. The Ministry's leaflets are extensively used. 



Farm outdoor work includes seasonal visits to the Home 

 Farm (1,200 acres) of the Earl of Powis, thus providing oppor- 

 tunities of observing methods of cultivation, varieties of stock 

 and implements. A report is prepared by the students and is 

 published in the local press each year on the results of the plot 

 experiments that are of particular interest to local farmers. 

 Nearly all the operations in the cultivation of the school garden 

 and plot are performed, under direction, by the boys themselves, 

 as it is considered that, if the students were mere spectators, 

 their interest would be only partial and the educational benefit 

 lessened. 



