FARNHAMj 



SCHOOL-GARDENS RELATIOX TO GEOGRAPHY 81 



acter of soil best adapted for corn, and the effect of heat and 

 moisture on the growing plants. An ear of corn partially 

 husked is a good subject for the drawing class. The harvested 

 ears should be used for schoolroom decoration. It will be re- 

 called that some of our finest and most elaborate decorations at 

 the Columbian Exposition and at the Pan American were made 

 of different parts of the corn plant. 



We lead the nations of the world in the production of wheat. 

 The wheat crop in 1900 equaled 625 million bushels. Wheat 

 is the most widely distributed and the most nutritious of the 

 cereals. More than one-third of the world's population are 

 consumers of wheat bread. 



The school-garden should give space for the growth of 

 spring wheat. The variety sown should be noted, dates of sow- 

 ing and harvesting should be recorded, the period of growth 

 determined, effects of heat and moisture observed, and insect 

 pests, if any, studied. Since wheat is harvested in vacation, 

 the gardener should note the time and report it to the class at 

 the opening of school in September. The ripened grain should 

 be used in decoration. A small plot of winter wheat should be 

 grown and many comparisons made with spring wheat. 



Our country is exceeded in the production of oats by Russia 

 only. Our annual crop some years reaches one billion bushels. 

 Oats should be cultivated in the school-garden, a careful study 

 be made of their growth, conditions for growth, and compari- 

 sons made with wheat and corn as to growth and conditions 

 for growth. How may oats be distinguished from wheat before 

 the plants head ? 



Hay forms one of the most valuable crops in the United 

 States. Its average annual value is 470 million dollars, coming 

 iiext in value to the corn crop. It is of great importance in 

 the cattle-raising states of the corn districts, and also in the 

 dairy states, of which Xew York leads. "Hay" should include 

 "timothy," clover and alfalfa. 



The school-garden should make the pupils familiar with each 

 of these forage plants, from the seed to the harvested plants. 

 Note that under favorable conditions more than one crop may be 

 harvested in a single growing season. Which will produce the 



