8o4 Rural School Leaflet 



syllabus has relation to agriculture and may be intensified according to 

 the amount of time and the interest of the teacher and pupils. Each 

 lesson should lay the foundation for fundamental agricultural knowledge 

 which will be introductory to high school and college work in these sub- 

 jects. We would advise teachers of the seventh and eighth grades to 

 follow the work outlined by the syllabus for these grades, choosing, how- 

 ever, for the most serious study the subject that is of greatest interest in 

 the community; as fruit growing, raising of farm crops, dairying, and the 

 like. 



If fruit growing is the special interest in the community, begin in the 

 autumn with discussions of the marketing of apples or other fruit. Have 

 the pupils collect specimens of all varieties to be found in the neighbor- 

 hood. Have these identified and labeled for a school exhibit. Discuss 

 the most popular variety of fruit in your community and send the pupils 

 on a quest to learn why it is the most popular. Ask a successful fruit 

 grower in the community to give a talk on the subject. During the school 

 year plant a fruit tree. Let the tree planted by each class have signif- 

 icance and stand for a permanent piece of work. Have the children 

 realize, even in a most elementary way, the interrelation and interde- 

 pendence of outdoor things. The study of soils,, for example, in these 

 grades will be most interesting, and will have added value if made in the 

 interest of a tree to be planted. Discuss the advantage of having a 

 home fruit garden. Boys and girls will take an interest in such a 

 garden. 



If dairying is the chief interest in the community, choose the subject 

 matter as outlined in the syllabus for which specific material can be found. 

 In country places a visit should be made to a farm, in order that the children 

 may learn the types of cows and begin to think about pure breeds of cattle. 

 A Babcock test machine might be placed in the schoolroom and milk 

 from different farms tested by the pupils. When the test has been suc- 

 cessfully made in the schoolroom, it would be valuable to have the class 

 make this test at a grange meeting or a farmers' institute. The matter 

 of balanced rations may be studied, and other subjects of interest on a dairy 

 farm. Special lessons in the interest of dairying were published in the Cor- 

 nell Rural School Leaflet for September, 191 1. Upon request we shall try 

 to supply a copy to teachers who did not receive this publication last year. 



To encourage the children in their general out-of-door observations, 

 many teachers have found it helpful to have in the schoolroom a nature- 

 study corner. This is fitted up with a table on which specimens may be 

 kept. Above is a shelf containing reference books. The children may 

 be taught to bring to the schoolroom specimens of plants to be left on 

 this table until the teacher has time to identify them. If the teacher is 



