234 NA TURE-STUD Y RE \ 'IE W [6:8-Nov., 1910 



Sweden and Russia ; and that in warm climates a winter variety 

 is used almost exclusively. 



The work was carried over into the summer term of school, 

 which made it possible to follow out the entire life history of 

 the plant. When the plants began to blossom the position of the 

 flowering stems was observed and the number on one plant 

 counted. The kind of flower cluster, the spreading panicle, was 

 studied and compared with the side oats, a few of which we had 

 growing in the garden. It was also compared with the spike of 

 wheat. A few ambitious students looked into the flower for the 

 essential organs and were delighted with what they found, espe- 

 cially with the dainty, feathery pistils. 



The difference in the two varieties of oats was studied with 

 interest. The Kherson ripened its grain and was ready for har- 

 vest ten days before the Swedish ; while the latter was fully nine 

 inches higher than the former. The difference in yield, however, 

 as shown by weight, was slight. 



The experiments for smut worked beautifully. The plots 

 were carefully examined and not a single smut head was found 

 in the plot whose seed was treated with formalin. On the other 

 hand the smut heads were numerous in the untreated plot. The 

 difference in yield amounted to ten bushels per acre. 



The life history of the oats smut was studied briefly in this 

 connection in order that the students might understand how 

 treating the seed before planting could prevent the appearance of 

 smut on the heads of the oats. 



The place of oats as a farm crop was given some time, its 

 value in the rotation of crops, the use of the straw and stubble, 

 and the food value of the grain. 



Altogether the lessons afforded by these two familiar plants, 

 we believe, were worth while from an educative standpoint as 

 well as a practical one. 



THE N. E. A. SCHOOL GARDEN LUNCHEON 



By ELLEN EDDY SHAW 



A unique feature of the N. E. A., was a school garden 

 luncheon. This does not sound unique. It would seem a very 

 easy matter to procure in the vicinity of Boston children's garden 

 products sufficient to provide a luncheon. But for the West, 

 South and Canada to send material in condition to use sounds 

 impossible. But it actually happened. And these more remote 



