852 Rural School Leaflet. 



4. Beautify the school-grounds. Endeavor to interest the trustees 



and the farmers of the district. In one district, an oyster supper brought 



forth money and enthusiasm enough to produce a marked improvement. 



Valuable suggestions will be found in 



Cornell Reading-Course for Farmers' Wives. Series II, No. 6. 

 Farmers' Bulletin (U. S. Dept. Agriculture) No. 43 " Tree Plant- 

 ing on Rural School Grounds," 



Farmers' Bulletin No. 185 " Beautifying the Home." 

 Farmers' Bulletin No. 248 " The Lawn." 

 Farmers' Bulletin No. 218 "The School Garden." 



5. Begin a school-garden. Every country school should have its 

 garden. If possible, it should be large enough so that every child may 

 have a garden of its own. The children should also be encouraged to 

 have gardens at home. The school-garden may be used as an Experi- 

 ment Station to test different fertilizers, different varieties, different 

 methods of planting, and the like. Read 



The Cornell Rural School Leaflets. 

 Farmers' Bulletin No. 218 " The School Garden." 

 Bailey — " Garden -Making." 



It will be found less expensive to buy seeds in bulk and divide these 

 into penny packets to be sold or given to the children, preferably sold. 



6. Make a window-box and have plants growing in it. 



J Consult. Farmers' Bulletin 218 "The School Garden" and the 

 Cornell Rural School Leaflets. 



7. Have a terrarium. This is a box with sides and top made of win- 

 dow screens. The top is hinged so that it can be raised. Earth can 

 be put in the bottom and plants allowed to grow in it. Frogs, toads, 

 butterflies, insects and other outdoor life can thus be safely housed. 

 The terrarium may be used in winter for the study of fowls. 



8. Have an aquarium. A glass vessel or a Mason fruit-jar, with 

 water frequently renewed, serves the purpose. Have some water plants 

 growing in the aquarium and keep a few fishes, salamanders and tad- 

 poles in it for study. 



9. Have a museum. Let the collection be started and added to by 



the children themselves. It is suggested that collections be made of 



the following: 



(i) The different typeS of soil found in the neighborhood: sand, 

 silt, clay, muck and sandy, silty and clay loams. 



(2) Common seeds of vegetables, flowers, and farm crops. 



(3) Common grasses: timothy, red top, meadow fescue, Kentucky 

 blue grass; orcha.rd grass. 



(4) Common legumes of the farm and garden: red, white, and 

 alsike clovers, alf-alfa, peas, beans, vetch, soy beans. 



