158 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [11 :3— Mar., 1915 



Problems — 



Why is it desirable to have birds around the yard and garden? 

 How may each of these birds be identified? 

 Which is the most interesting bird? 

 In what ways is the wren (or any other bird) useful? 

 What may be done to increase the number of birds around our homes? 

 Which birds have the most musical songs? 

 How can we identify birds from their songs? 



Thru what changes in plumage does a rose-breasted grosbeck pass 

 from the time it is first hatched till it is two years old? 



2. The toad. 

 Problems — 



Of what use is the toad in the garden? 



What may be done to increase the number in our gardens? 



3. Insects; such as lady beetle, ground beetle, aphis lion, dragon fly, 



ichneumon fly, bees, tiger beetle. 

 Problems — 



In what ways is each of these insects beneficial? 

 Which do you consider the most helpful? 



V. Soils of the Garden. 



Bonds, composition, origin, water capacity, capillarity, fertilizing, cultiva- 

 tion. 

 Problems (to be answered by experiments) 



What is the value of cultivating the garden besides killing the weeds? 



How do roots get water from the soil in a dry season? 



What kind of soil is best for furnishing water to plants during a dry 

 spell? 



What kind of soil holds the most water after a rain? 



Which is better for raising early vegetables, a sandy or clayey soil? 



What effect does drainage of a wet soil have on the growth of plants? 



Of what is soil composed? 



How may the test for acid soil be made? 



Seasonal Order of Topics 



March April May 



Soils. Shrubs and vines. Bee keeping. 



Poultry keeping. Shrubs for birds. Enemies of the garden. 



Nesting houses for birds. Fruit garden. Friends of the garden. 



Plumage of birds. Vegetable garden. Bird songs. 



Flower garden. Flowers from bulbs. 



Bird fountains. 



