Rural School Leaflet. 



847 



8. How does a hen drink? Why? Does a pigeon drink in this way? 

 Do other birds ? 



9. Note how a hen expresses suspicion, fright, terror, and happiness. 



10. How do hens fight ? How and with what weapons do roosters fight ? 



11. What is the chief note of the rooster? When does he crow and 

 why? Note other sounds made by a rooster. 



12. Describe how a hen dusts and suns herself. Why does she do this? 



PLANTING GRAIN 



G. F. W^ARREN 



^^^^^^ HE planting of grain in the fall will give oppor- 

 m tunity for a valuable lesson in elementary agri- 



m culture. Have some student dig up a considerable 



number of wheat or rye plants and bring to school 

 or take the class to a field for the lesson. The 

 plants will usually show how deeply they were 

 planted. Arrange them in three piles. Those 

 that were planted shallow, medium deep, and 

 very deep. Which plants are larger and stronger? 

 At what depth are the permanent roots coming 

 out in each case? What is becoming of the roots 

 that first started from the deep-planted grains? 

 What depth appears to have been best in this 

 field? On which would deeper planting be desirable, a sandy soil or 

 clay? If the soil is dry, would you plant deep or shallow? When plant- 

 ing corn very early in the season, would you plant the same depth 

 as when planting later? At what depth are most seeds planted by 

 Nature ? 



Notes for the Teachers. — No matter how deeply corn, wheat, oats, 

 barley, rye or other cereals* are planted, they will send out their per- 

 manent roots at the depth that is best for the plant under the particular 

 conditions of soil, temperature, and moisture. 



Many farmers plant the grains too deeply thinking that they will 

 force the plant to be deep rooted, but they merely cause it the trouble 

 of readjusting itself. This usually so weakens the plant as to decrease 

 the yield. For best yields we should rarely plant more than an inch 

 deep. It is usually not possible to set a seeder so as to run just an 

 inch deep without its being on top of the ground part of the time. 



*A cereal is one of the grass plants whose grain is eaten. 



