298 EXPEEIMENT STATION RECOED, 



iu high schools and special secondary agricultni-al schools in the northern por- 

 tion of the United States, special reference being made to the agricultural 

 schools of Wisconsin. It describes (1) short courses, including (a) a 10 

 weeks' course for boys who have had no training for farming, (b) a 2-year 

 short course in dairying, (c) a farmers' lecture course, which includes a If) 

 weeks' young people's course usually during the winter, (d) a farmers' 1 week's 

 school, and (e) institutes and summer tours; (2) extension work, consisting of 

 demonstrations on the individual farm, and the organization of corn testing 

 societies, grain growing associations, and social centers; (3) an information 

 bureau, where the instructor answers personal inquiries, makes seed tests, Bab- 

 cock tests, etc.; and (4) the distribution of public;itions. 



Practical aid to the school garden movement by the United States Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, Susan B. Sipe (Nat lire- Studi/ Rev., 8 {1912), No. 2, pp. 

 51-53). — A brief account is given of the operations of the Office of Experiment 

 Stations in promoting the theoretical side of the school garden movement, and 

 of the Bureau of Plant Industry iu promoting its practical side. 



The school garden as a center for the teaching of nature study, H. O. 

 Johnson (Nature-Stiuly Rev., 8 {1912), No. 2, pp. 5.',-61, figs. J). —The author 

 gives as one of the reasons why the school garden should be made the center 

 for teaching nature study that " the child in the garden (a little world in itself) 

 is placed on a battle ground of opposing natural forces which are identical in 

 kind and behavior with those which he must necessarily meet in his subsequent 

 life." It is also shown that garden work combines the serious and the pleasur- 

 able, makes the pupil stronger and more resourceful through the knowledge of 

 his ability to deal with iiatural forces, furnishes a most potent motive for the 

 learning of the formal lesson in nature study, enlists the interest of parents, 

 furnishes easily accessible material for the nature study- lessons, and guaranties 

 a closer relation of nature study with other subjects in the curriculum. Inci- 

 dentally it teaches a number of exceedingly interesting and profitable lessons, 

 such as respect for the man who works with his hands, a sense of ownership 

 or proprietorship which tends to develop independence, strength, and self- 

 respect, an appreciation of the value of money, cooperation and neighborliness, 

 and habits of neatness and orderliness. 



School gardening, a fundamental element in education, B. J. Horchem 

 {Nature-StiuIy Rev., 8 {1912). No. 2, pp. G2-66., fig. 1). — The author considers 

 that school gardening is fundamental in its relation to the physical and moral 

 development of the child, and that a healthful and natural development will 

 solve the social problems of the nation. 



The civic aspect of school gardens, Louise K. Miller {Nature-Study Rev., 

 8 {1912), No. 2, pp. 7Jf-77, fig. 1). — The author points out that school gardens 

 may become radiating centers of great influence for civic improvement. She 

 refers to the department of school gardens in Cleveland, where there are 107 

 school gardens of from 1 to 5 acres for normal, backward, defective, blind, 

 crippled, and tubercular children, boys iu the detention school for the juvenile 

 court, a kitchen garden for the domestic science class, and a botanic garden. 

 In the schools last winter 60 illustrated lectures were given by the curator of 

 school gardens on various phases of gardening and crop production. 



Boys' potato clubs: How to grow the crop and organization, J. C. Hogen- 

 soN {Utah Sta. Circ. 5, pp. 3-15). — Directions are given for growing and 

 handling potatoes and for organizing potato clubs. 



Outlines in agriculture and home economics, E. T. Fairchild {Topeka, 

 Kans.: Dept. Piih. Imtr., 1911, pp. 35). — The author indicates the necessary 

 equipment, including soil and crop specimens, for instruction in agriculture, 



