WINTER SCHOOL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2276, 22 August 1908, Page 3

WINTER SCHOOL.

DAY SESSION

The lectures iu connection with tlio AVintor School were continued yesterday. In tho morning Air. Clark continued his subject of tlio previous day, referring to tlio relation of tho construction of cardboard models to tlio teaching of mensuration nnd geometry. Air. Grant’s subject was the planting of soeds, ami no gave a very interesting discourse, referring to tho difficulty seeds havo in breaking through the soil, which often explained the failure of a crop supposed to_ bo from faulty seeds. Ho was in favor of thick sowing as it helped to bronk tlio crust of the earth. Tlio extra cost was not worth considering when tho vnluo of tho crop was tnlcon into consideration.

In the afternoon Air. Sidebottom spoko on voico culture. lie gave a snort sketch of tho anatomy of the thorax, showing the principles of inspiration and oxpiration, and leading to tho study of deep breathing gavo tlio reason for nasal breathing in preference to oral breathing. The formation of tho throat including tho action of the larynx, and tlio glottis and epiglottis in relation to it. Tlio method of correct use of these organs in singing was again pointed out. and insisted on, anti the correct method of exorcising children’s voices was shown. Air. Smith continued his lessons 011 school singing, dealing particularly with transitions. Ho insisted on tlio importance of progressing by easy stages, and spoke of tho necessity of tho exercises 011 tho work being easy. Ho explained that many classes canto to grief in their transiton exercises bofore the Inspector, owing to the difficulty of tho work sot by tho teacher.

EVENING LECTURE. At Trinity Schoolroom last evening Air. G. do S. Baylis, of the Department of Agriculture, dolivorecl a lecturo on “Grasses for Farm Lands.”

Air. AV. Alorgan prosified, and briefly introduced the lecturor to a small audience.

Afr. Baylis commenced by saying that few people realised tho economic value of grasses., AA T ool, meat, milk, buttor, cheese, straw mats, and many of the chief requirements of man were the products of grasses. Grasses also gave us the ceroals —wheat, oats, rye, and all the flour-producing grains. The fertility of a country could be gauged by its grasses. If the kinds suited to tho various districts were ascertained, tho grasses would act as pioneer soil surveyors, and show what crops were suited to those distrets. The various groups of grasses possess characteristics ns strongly marked ns do nations, and of these families there wore sub-var-ieties possessing individual characteristics. In selecting grasses tho influence of environment had to be considered, though grasses endeavored to adapt themselves to circumstances. It was just as disastrous to mix grasses which were unsuitable to each other as it was to attempt to bring together in a small area all kinds of nations, none of which were suited to associate. This was an important consideration when a man wished to sow land down in grass. In a judicious mixture of grasses tho varieties should be so selected that they would not all root, flower, and feed at the samo time, or require equal air and daylight, but should mature and seed at various intervals. Just as the characteristics of parents were handed down, to their children, so did the different varieties of grasses transmit their characteristics. They had here a valuablo -seed known as Poverty Bay ryegrass, which had acquired a characteristic for permanency because the land on which it was grown had remained sown down in that grass for a considerable number of years. The first grass the lecturer drew attention to was cocksfoot, .which, preferred alluvial and moderately dry and porous soil. Experiments at Ontario College showed that this grass yielded 10.7 tons compared with 8.7 tons yielded by a- similar quantity of rye. Cocksfoot yielded a large amount of autumn feed. It was .hardy, and endured drougiht, cold, and heat. It was slow to grow after seeding, but would associate well with cowgrass. Cocksfoot was inclined to grow coarse and woody as it grew older. Under New Zealand conditions few experiments had been made, and the lecturer considered they should ho able to say what kinds of grasses should be sown on different soils according to climatic conditions. New Zealand was destined to become one of tlio foremost pastoral and stock-raising countries in the world, and they should experiment fully with grasses. They should localise them to different districts, arid be able to point to a map showing where tlio different grasses should be grown, as the result of methodical trials. Aluch of the land in New Zealand was fit for nothing but pasture, and- they should not render worthless a valuable asset by sowing rubbish. The next grass taken was perennial rye, which the lecturer described as perhaps the greatest blessing and at the same time the greatest curse known to paetoralists. This grass- composed the famous oxpastures of Leicestershire, which have never been allowed to 6eed for 40 yars. The Poverty Bay flats were likewise proof of its permanency 011 suitable soils. Perennial rye was a curse ill that it grew quickly, and smothered small grasses which took longer to' take root. Bare and poorlybottomed pastures were those which had been based on perennial rye. Italian rye was a bigger growing grass than perennial rye, and was a deeper rooter,, and) voracious eater. It was known as “The Glutton,” as it took such a lot out of the soil. For temporary pastures on good and wollfertuisod land it was invaluable. If sown in autumn it was good for winter and early spring feed, and for hay. A fairly deep-rooted grass, it did wrill with broad clover. No grass better illustrated the influence of environment than, tall fescue. In the swamp lands of Alanawatu and in the cold, dry, poor parts of Otago it was a payable grass. In England and America it was highly prized and also in South Africa. It was hardy, and one of the deepest rooters, hut subject to ergot. Poa pratensis was identical with Kentucky blue grass, and was known as the king of grasses. In soils impregnated with lime carbonate and phosphates of lime, potash, alumina, and also with je'rric oxides (shown by the real clover' of the soil) this grass did best. It did not do well in a humid climate, and prefers a light- to a tenacious soil. It mixes well with rod clover and alsike, and its roofs were shallow, but extensive. Aieadow fescue was described as one of the earliest grasses, and a good drought and frost register. Timothy, the lecturer stated, was to parts of the United States what cocksfoot and perennial rye were to New Zealand. It gave a good crop the first year, but being among tho bulbous-rooted grasses, was apt to get rooted out. Crested dogst.nl was a very sweet and hardy grass, and flourished on their upland pastures. Horses wore especially fond of it, and would travel miles fo'obtain it. Tho latter part of the lecture was devoted to clovers, which the lecturer explained did not belong to tho tribe of grasses. Tlioy did great value in gathering nitrogen, and saved farmers who used them from £l6 to £2O a ton for artificial manures which would have to be used to do the work done to the soil by clovers. The lecturer had a specially good word, to say for lucerne. It feeds at great depths, and its roots went down as fa>r as from 30ft- to 40ft. In 190. J, three estancieros in Cordova, in the Argentine, put 400,000 acres down in lucerne in one year. ’On irrigated lucerne, Air. At. A. Galenby, at Zemalong (N.S.AV.), carried 1087 sheep and three draught horses for four months upon 22 iacres. Upon {no conclusion of a most mstructive and interesting lecture, Air. Baylis was warmly applauded, and a vote of thanks was carried by acclamation. Air. Baylis stated that a great deal of the credit for the success of the lecture was due to Air. Hill for enabling him to show them so many excellent illustrations, which were from photographs by Air. Hill. A vote of thanks to tho chairman concluded the proceedings,