With regard to weeds generally, it must always be borne in mind by the farmer and gardener that they not only deprive the growing crops of the food intended for them only, but their presence robs the young plant of the air, light, moisture, and heat essential for its healthy development. It is quite possible, however, that some of the plants we now condemn as weeds will some day be utilised as green crops and ploughed in. The entire constituents of the crop are in such case returned to the soil. It is unnecessary to allude here to another aspect of the weed question further than to remark, that a garden owes much of its charm and neatness to its order, cleanliness, and entire absence of weeds.
TECHNICAL EDUCATION AT GORDON’S COLLEGE, ABERDEEN.
A little over two years ago (March 22, 1884), under the title of [‘A Practical Science and Art School],’ we gave an account of the transformation that had taken place at Gordon’s College, Aberdeen, the old ‘hospital’ having been converted into a day and evening school, both possessing sections specially devoted to technical instruction. The first independent examination of the College (day-school) has just been made, the examiners being Professor Birrell of St Andrews, and Professor Kennedy of University College, London, who report highly on the appearance made and the work done by the pupils, and on the general condition of the College. They mention that the College has so prospered under its new constitution, that whereas the pupils in attendance previous to 1881 at no time exceeded two hundred, the number on the register for this session (1885-86) exceeds eight hundred. Of these, one hundred and twenty are foundationers, who are entitled to free education, books, and an allowance of £15, 12s. per annum for maintenance and clothing, &c.; and this is all that remains of the ‘hospital’ system. We excerpt the portion of the Report bearing on ‘Handicraft,’ as being of general interest:
‘A certain number of the most promising boys in the third division are allowed to receive workshop instruction for from one and a half to two hours a week; while in the fourth and fifth divisions of the Commercial School it forms a regular subject of instruction, to which about four hours a week are allotted. Some boys have only one year of this work, some (occasionally) over two years. A year and a half seems to be about the average. The work done by individual pupils depends upon their ability and probable future employment, each having free choice so far as it is practicable. All boys occupy themselves with simple woodwork for about a year after entering. Later on, they obtain practice in fitter’s work (filing, chipping, scraping, &c.), and in work at simple machine tools (simple and screw-cutting lathes and planing-machines), also in forging and greensand moulding. Those who require it are also taught something of tinplate and plumber’s work. From twenty to twenty-five lads work in the workshop at one time—there is not room for more. At present, about eighty lads in all are receiving practical instruction in four detachments. Earlier in the session (a large number of the more advanced boys having left for situations in the early spring), the total number was about one hundred and twenty-five, receiving instruction in five divisions.
‘For the purposes of inspection, we requested that boys at all the different stages might be put in the workshop simultaneously, in order that both elementary and advanced work might be examined. The younger boys were making wooden joints, half-lap, scarf, dovetail, &c.; and from this, various grades of work were represented up to the different parts of a slide-rest lathe which was in process of construction. There seemed no tendency to take the work as play; it was carried on as seriously and in the same spirit as every other part of the educational course. The results were correspondingly satisfactory. It is not intended or supposed that work of this kind will supersede the necessity of apprenticeship in practical work; but it is believed that it will send the boys to their apprenticeship much better prepared than they would otherwise be to take advantage of the opportunities they then have of learning, and much more likely to be soon useful to their employers. Carried on in the spirit in which the workshop at Gordon’s College is carried on, these results are certainly achieved, and can only be spoken of in terms of thorough commendation. The work turned out by the boys was not, of course, equal to that of journeymen; but judged from its own point of view, as the work of boys having had at most very little training, it was as satisfactory in execution as in intention.’
It may not be out of place to mention that Mr F. Grant Ogilvie, the Science teacher at Gordon’s College, has recently been appointed Principal of the Heriot-Watt College, Edinburgh; while Mr T. A. Clark, Superintendent of the workshop at Gordon’s College, has been appointed to the corresponding post at Heriot’s Hospital School.
AN EXPERIMENT IN CO-OPERATIVE FARMING.
We learn from a contemporary that the experiment in co-operative farming now being made by the Duke of Portland on his Gringley estate is exciting considerable attention in the country amongst all classes. The farm referred to, consisting of about four hundred and eighty-five acres, has been let, together with all the stock, horses, and implements upon it, and with all the rights of the tenant, to an association of six agricultural labourers. It is chiefly arable, there being only thirty-six acres of grass; and the soil is a deep peat, growing good wheat, and also oats, but not barley. The terms upon which the farm is let or leased are, it is said, a fixed rent, payable half-yearly. The tenant-right has been valued by parties mutually chosen, and three per cent. is to be charged on the amount, to be paid half-yearly with the rent. The horses, stock, and implements left upon the farm have also been valued by the same valuers, and three per cent. is to be charged thereon. The tenant-right, the stock, and implements are at all times to be kept up after a style of good husbandry, and the landlord, his agent, or servants are to have every facility shown them to ascertain that the capital is being in no way deteriorated. The shooting is not let with the farm. The agreement is the one usually in force on the Duke’s estate, but it has been found necessary, under the peculiar circumstances of the case, to enter into a subsidiary agreement giving power to resume possession at any time, and this document will necessarily come under the Bills of Sale Act. The amount of the valuation is said to be £2431, 10s. The farm buildings are in good order, and sufficient for the requirements of the farm. The live-stock on the farm has been valued, as also the farming implements and general stock, including sufficient seed-corn. There are four houses on the farm; but in order to meet the requirements of the six men and their families, two of the houses have been divided, and other alterations may also be made. A deed of partnership is being drawn up amongst the men, which shall be in force for seven years. Each man is to receive a wage of four pounds a month; accounts are to be balanced yearly; and after the rent, interest, and all other charges are deducted, the remainder is to be paid over towards reducing the amount of the valuation.
THE CONSUMPTION OF TEA.
The Australian colonies and New Zealand, according to one of the Indian journals, drink far more tea per head of population than the British Islands. The Australians come first, with 7.66 pounds per head; the New Zealanders next, with 7.23 pounds per head; while the people of Great Britain, though appearing third in the list, consume only 4.90 pounds each. Newfoundland and Canada come next; while in the United States the consumption is only 1.30 pound per head; and in Russia, which is always regarded as a great tea-drinking country, the consumption is only 0.61 pound per head. Belgium, Sweden, Austria-Hungary, and Spain consume less than the other European nations; but there is not one nation on the continent, with the exception of Holland, in which the annual consumption exceeds one pound per head. But in certain parts of the countries named, tea-drinking is much more common than in others. In certain Russian districts, especially, tea is drunk constantly and copiously, and it is this fact which has given rise to the notion that Russia is the most bibulous of all tea-drinking countries.