I40 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Oct. and Nov. 



The purpose of the book it said to be " to aid the reader in 

 acquiring a knowledge of the science of agriculture, as distinct 

 from the art of agriculture, that is, a knowledge of the ' why,' 

 rather than a knowledge of the 'how.' The science of agricul- 

 ture may be said to consist of a mingling of chemistry, geology, 

 botany, entomology, physiology, bacteriology, and other sciences, 

 in as far as they have a bearing upon agriculture. The aim has 

 been to include but the first principles of these various sciences 

 and to show their application to the art of agriculture. . . . An 

 intelligent uiiderstanding of the science underlying the art of 

 as^riculture will add much interest to what is otherwise hard 

 work, and as a natural consequence, the pleasure of such work 

 may be greatly increased." 



Kvery day the fact is being recognized more and more that 

 the elements of those sciences which underlie all progress in 

 every branch of agriculture must be taught in the Public and 

 High Schools of the country. Already simple nature studies 

 and the first steps in chemistry and geology are taught in the 

 schools of Manitoba and Ontario, and these studies have proved 

 to be not only of use and attractive to the students, but a ready 

 means of creating a bond of sympathy between the teacher and 

 his pupils ; more especially has this been the case with those 

 energetic and restless souls too often now called " bad boys '' 

 more, perhaps, from lack of understanding or skill in manage- 

 ment on the part of the teacher than from a superabundance of 

 of real badness on the part of the taught. Boys play truant be- 

 cause they find more to interest them outside the school than at 

 their desks. If therefore the things which appertain to out-of- 

 doors can be brought inside the schoolroom without robbing 

 them of too much of their outside flavour, they will be a sure 

 bait to catch the attention of all bright healthy boys and 

 girls. Their study will arouse interest at once and the habits of 

 concentration, power to observe and compare, and the necessary 

 development of the faculties of exact thought and accurate 

 description will be available for all other branches of study with 

 which the pupil is engaged. 



