Mome IRatuve s Stu6^ Course 



Published by the College of Agriculture of Cornell University, 

 in October, December, February and April and Entered October 

 1, igo4, at Ithaca, New York, as Second-class Matter, under 

 Act of Congress of July 16, 1894. 



ANNA BOTSFORD COMSTOCK, Editor 



New Series. Vol. II. ITHACA, N. Y., OCTOBER-NOVEMBER, 1905 No. i 



NATURE-STUDY ON THE FARM 



1VERYONE who owns a foot of land has Nature for 

 a partner. If the land is not cultivated Nature 

 sows there her own crops ; reaps them and sows 

 them again. If the land is cultivated Nature helps 

 as willingly to raise the crops which please her 

 partner — jNIan. But she still favors her wild and 

 hardy plants and finds place for their seeds even 

 on cvdtivated soil. Whether the plants be culti- 

 vated or not, she brings her insects to feed upon them. Then she brings 

 her birds to feed upon the insects and the seeds ; she is always busy 

 doing something upon this land, which she owns in partnership. The 

 farmer works only during the day time ; Nature works night and day. 

 The farmer does little work during the winter ; Nature keeps at it stead- 

 ily all the year round. 



The best farmer is the one who keeps this busy partner of his work- 

 ing for his own interests day and night, summer and winter. But he 

 can never do this until he understands Nature's ways — how and why 

 she does her work. He must go out into the fields and ask of Nature, 

 " Why have you planted here this tree ? Why have you sown there those 

 weeds ? Why have you brought here these insects to destroy our orchards 

 or our grain ? Why do you not bring more insects which are friendly to 

 the crops I wish to grow? Why are there not enough birds to kill the 

 insects which are ruining our harvest? " 



The most successful farmer of the future will not allow on his prem- 

 ises plants, insects, birds or animals without knowing why Nature placed 

 them there and whether they are there for the benefit or detriment of his 

 estate. 



This year the work of the Home Nature-Study class will consist of 

 going into the fields and asking of Nature " why " and " how." Every 

 school teacher in New York State if she has pupils from the country, 

 should be able to teach them how to study and understand the ways of 

 Nature, that busy, silent partner of the farmer, the gardener, and the 



orchardist. 



701 



