Rural School Leaflet 97^; 



(7) Fertilizers: nitrate of soda, dried blood, ground bone, acid phos- 

 phate, muriate of potash, and as many others as are used in the neighbor- 

 hood. 



(8) Feeds for farm animals: bran, middlings, gluten feed, buckwheat 

 middlings, and others in use. The local feed merchants and seedmen 

 might lend their aid in supplying samples of these feeds as well as samples 

 of fertilizers and seeds. 



(9) Fruit. In the fall, different varieties of apples, pears, plums, 

 and grapes could be collected, probably with much enthusiasm by the 

 children. Part of an afternoon could be given for a short talk on fruit 

 growing by a local fruit-grower, after which the samples of fruit could 

 be eaten. Similar collections of root crops and vegetables might be 

 made, not with the idea of keeping them in the school for a long time 

 but as one of the best means of teaching children to become familiar with 

 the common things of their farms. 



(10) Flowers and weeds. These can be pressed and used as the basis 

 for the school collection. Begin with the most common plants and enlarge 

 the collection slowly in order that the children may become familiar 

 with the plants studied. 



(11) Leaves of trees. Press the leaves of some of the most common 

 trees, adding to the collection slowly enough for the children to learn 

 as they go. 



Plants are always attractive and wherever possible they should be 

 grown in the schoolroom. For this purpose a window box is good, 

 especially one in which flowerpots are set instead of the plants being 

 grown in the box. In this way the arrangement can be frequently changed, 

 new plants added, or the individual plants taken home in cold weather. 



A terrarium is merely a box with screened sides and top, containing 

 earth, stones, and plants in the bottom. In it can be kept any hve animal 

 that it is desired to study for a limited time. This is a handy method 

 for close study. 



The Babcock milk test has met with great response wherever tried. 

 The small four-bottle outfits cost $5 and can be obtained from any good 

 dairymen's supply company. Many of the larger schools will find this 

 a valuable piece of apparatus to own. We have four of these outfits, 

 which it is our purpose to lend for a month at a time to those schools 

 that apply for them. In this way we can reach some thirty-five schools 

 during the year. If you desire one we shall be glad to place your name on 

 the list. The only cost will be the express charge one way. 



We reprint from last year's leaflet the following, which we consider 

 a very valuable line of work and which can be done largely outside of 

 school by those interested: Encourage the pupils to take an interest 



