1921.] " Rural Bias " in Secondary Schools. 1 17 



phate of potash 1{ cwt., nitrate of soda '2 cwt., salt 3 cwt., and 

 beyond these three plots there is a little triangular piece on 

 which mangolds are being grown without manure. A quarter - 

 acre plot of grass land has been divided up. all having been 

 dressed with potassic superphosphate at the rate of cwt. per 

 acre, while half has received in addition nitrate of soda at the 

 rate of 1 cwt. per acre. The manurial value of each is carefully 

 explained and the pupils can compare for themselves the actual 

 results obtained. Elsewhere swedes are being grown on plots 

 with farmyard manure applied at the rate of 25 tons per acre 

 over the whole, while one half has an addition of superphosphate, 

 potash and sulphate of ammonia, and the other has superphos- 

 phate, potash and nitrate of soda instead. Potatoes are grown 

 under a variety of conditions. One plot has farmyard manure 

 at the rate of 15 tons to the acre and is then divided up, one 

 half receiving an addition of superphosphate, potash and sulphate 

 of ammonia, the other superphosphate, potash and nitrate of 

 soda, this additional manuring being the same as is given to the 

 swedes. In addition to this there is another potato plot divided 

 into five parts. The first has no manure at all; the second has 

 superphosphate ; the third superphosphate and potash ; the fourth 

 superphosphate, potash and nitrate of soda ; the fifth superphos- 

 phate and nitrate of soda but no potash. Here too the pupils 

 will be able to see for themselves the effect upon the yield of 

 crop. The use of machinery and its value on the farm have not 

 been forgotten and the necessary attention is given to farm book- 

 keeping, farm correspondence and costs. 



The ordinary course in agricultural science is open to boys and 

 girls of the school between the ages of 15 and 17 who have 

 reached the fifth form or can give evidence of having receive d 

 public secondary school education up to the fifth form of the 

 school from which they have come. In addition to farm book- 

 keeping based on the year's accounts of the school farm, the 

 course of study includes land measurement and surveying, the 

 theory and practice of dairying — including laboratory practice, 

 the use of the Gerber tester, the clean production of milk, 

 the making of butter and cheese, the feeding and care of live 

 stock, including the preparation of rations on a scientific basis, 

 and the principles of land cultivation and manuring on grass 

 land, arable and moor. 



The Somersetshire orchards are unfortunately more remark- 

 able for their beauty than for the state of their preservation, and 

 a spirited effort is being made at Sexey's to teach students the 



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