Rural vSchool Leaflet 1295 



thai is better than anything of its kind that preceded it, is certainly 

 an amljition worthy of any one. Each individual farmer can con- 

 tribute something toward the attainment of such an end. A few per- 

 sons have been able to contriljute to the public good such acquisitions 

 as the Concord grape, the Burbank potato, and the Baldwin apple. 

 But usually such new varieties are the result of the labors of a large 

 number of persons who cooperate toward a common end. It is the 

 effort that counts. Character is not so much dependent on the things 

 accomplished as on the things attempted. Endeavor earnestly put 

 forth to contribute a share toward the improvement of agricultural interest 

 will be a marked factor in the development of a character whether 

 distinction is achieved in that line or not. 



Most farmers do not have any adequate conception of the importance 

 of improving plants and animals, if they think of the matter at all; and 

 the indi\'idual who persistently awakens their thoughts in this direction 

 by his own work, or b\' his interest in social gatherings where such questions 

 are discussed, will soon lake high' place among his fellows. When the 

 children of the public schools come to an understanding of the importance 

 and the possibility of improving the things they work with, they will be 

 much more interested in home aft'airs and less inclined to seek the city a 

 little later. 



It is a fact now well recognized that there is educational value in work 

 done in discovering the secrets and the moods of nature as well as in the 

 modes and tenses of languages that have long ceased to be spoken. 



HOW TO GROW CORN 

 E. R. Minns* 



Preparation. — In the fall before the corn is cut, select from a field of 

 of ripe corn some good ears from good sta,lks. Before planting time a 

 few kernels from each ear of seed corn should be tested to make sure that 

 they will sprout vigorously. 



The soil on which to grow a successful crop of corn should be chosen 

 if possible from the most fertile part of the farm. Sod land that grew 

 a crop of clover last year, and that has had a coat of barnyard manure 

 scattered on it during the winter or the early spring, is an ideal place to 

 plant corn. It should be carefully plowed early in the spring and harrowed 

 several times before the date for planting arrives, so that the top three 

 inches of soil will be fine and level. 



Planting. — It will not be best to plant corn before the weather is 

 warm, and all danger of frost is past, for corn needs warmth in the soil and 

 air. Such weather as corn needs may be expected some time during 

 May or early June 



* Revised by the editors. 



