Agricultural extension in the Ilongot Settlement Farm Schools

Title

Creator

Nutter, B. Fielden

Language

English

Year

1916

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION IN THE ILONGOT SETTLEMENT FARM SCHOOLS. Vizcaya. By B. F1ELDEN Nuttkb, Supervising Teacher, Non-Christian Schools, Nueva At the present time there are only two Ilongot settlement farm schools in Nueva Viscaya; they are at Casibu and Maquebenga, the one at Campote having been closed because of its nearness to the other two schools, and because the site was not Teaohers and are three of these schools suitable. The pupils transferred to Casibu. These two schools form natural centers for about 20 Ilongot rancherias, 12 of which have pupils in school. Plans are being made for bringing in pupils from all of them in the near future. There are three teachers in each school. There is an enroll ment of 53 with five grades in Casibu, and an enrollment of 40 with four grades at Maquebenga. This makes it possible to give the full primary course in each school, and to give higher work to pupils who show that they have the qualifications neces sary for them to become teachers. The sites at both schools were surveyed during the past year. 144041-----4 282 THE PHILIPPINE CRAFTSMAN They contain 143 and 7.8 hectares, respectively, and arrange ments are being made to inclose them with wire fences as soon as possible. The farms have been laid off into regular fields ranging in size from 2,000 to 3,000 square meters. The areas have been made so extensive, largely for the purpose of getting the teachers out of the habit of planting farm crops in small plots. Great attention has been given to the planting of bananas, papayas, pineapples, and camotes, and to the raising of upland rice. The total amount now under cultivation at both schools ils at the Ilongot sohools do. Bananae, pineapples, and oatnotes at Maquebenga. is about 5 hectares. There are more than 2,000 banana and pineapple plants and papaya trees growing, and it is planned to continue planting. The total production of rice for the past year was 56.5 cavans. This was consumed by pupils or was fed to animals on the farms. The camotes are so planted that there may be a harvest each month. The records show that for some time the average monthly production of camotes has been about 30 cavans. The records for the past year show that the total value of all animals, and farm, garden, and fruit crops was Pl,036.08 which is an average of P207.21 per hectare. The two schools are stocked with 30 hogs, 70 chickens, and AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION 5 carabaos. The Bureau of Education last year furnished this division with 8 Cantonese chickens and 2 Berkshire boars. Of these 3 chickens and 1 boar were sent to the Ilongot schools. There are now at the two schools, 10 pure Cantonese chickens, and 9 fine half-breed Berkshire pigs. The hog herd at the Maquebenga Settlement Farm School. The Ilongot boys are taught that the domestication of hogs furnishes a better and surer meat supply than does hunting. The agricultural work carried on in the settlement farm schools is slowly but surely reaching the Ilongots. This is demonstrated in the better planting of fields, the rotation of crops, the introduction of Moro corn, Turkish tobacco and improved papayas, the greater variety of farm and garden crops, and the better pigs and chickens one sees when visiting the rancherias. “God Almighty first planted a garden. And indeed, it is the purest of human pleasure. It is the greatest refreshment to the spirits of man; without which, buildings and palaces are but gross handiworks: and a man shall ever see, that when ages grow to civility and elegance, men come to build stately, sooner than to garden finely: as if gardening were the greater perfec tion. I do hold it, in the royal ordering of gardens, there ought to be gardens for all the months in the year; in which, severally, things of beauty may be seen in season.”—Sir Francis Bacon.

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