90 Missouri Agricultural Report. 



formal, disciplinary, unpractical theory of education ; and the glory of 

 the new agricultural education is that, like Mercy, "it blesseth him who 

 gives and him who takes." 



It is said that the first science ever studied and taught was the 

 science of astronomy — a subject as remote as possible from everyday 

 concerns, except in the minds of those few dreamy farmers who may 

 still sow and reap in the particular phases of the moon assigned to such 

 enterprises. But to "come down to earth," to suggest concrete illustra- 

 tions of what the modern teacher may be, I would recommend that the 

 earth itself should receive some attention — not the far-off "ball or globe 

 on which we live, ' ' as pictured and defined in the old geographies, but the 

 very earth over which your pupils walk to school. How many of them 

 know by sight, and feel, and smell, and taste, and definite name, the 

 four types of earth and their combinations which make up all the "dirt 

 roads" and cultivated fields of their own school district? Have speci- 

 mens of these soils collected, carefully examined, and named, if need be, 

 by the most competent farmer in the neighborhood. 



This is real geography. The local district may afford most excellent 

 opportimities for studies in the process of soil formation, and the value 

 of its various components for plant production. Before or after study- 

 ing the soil, I would have each pupil map the farms which lie along 

 the road by which he comes to school, or at least his own father's farm. 

 I would have him estimate, as accurately as possible, the kinds and 

 quantities of farm products in his neighborhood, and the number of 

 acres devoted to each. Make a study of the crop rotations used in the 

 district, why they are used, and how they might be improved. What 

 are the average yields of each crop and the average value of an acre of 

 each? Find out why the less profitable crops are grown and what 

 others could be grown to better advantage in maintaining the fertility 

 of the soil. Find out what it costs to grow an acre of each kind of 

 crop. Get bulletins of information on how to select good seed corn and 

 other grains. Study these with the practical purpose in view, and then 

 take the class into the fields and actually select the seed. Encourage 

 each boy and girl to choose the seed for planting on his home farm 

 next season, and show them how to care for this seed and how to test 

 it before planting. Some farmers haven't time to learn and do these 

 things (?), just as some haven't time to test the Avorth of their cow's 

 milk; but the children can. 



While crops are growing, give some attention to plant diseases and 

 the most troublesome insect enemies of crops. "A young woman took 

 her class into an oat field badly infested with smut. She took an ordi- 

 nary barrel hoop and dropped it down in the field. She then counted 



