94 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOKD. 



sources wbicli if wisely used would increase indefinitely man's health, wealth, 

 energy, and enjoyment of life." A four-year course is suggested in which the 

 first year should be given to " soils and all Inorganic matter," the second to 

 plant life, the third to animal life, and the last to " human life as affected by 

 agriculture," including its economic, hygienic, intellectual, esthetic, moral, and 

 social aspects. The belief is expressed that agriculture so taught would also 

 have important vocational as well as cultural value in giving a more intelligent 

 basis for the choice of agriculture as an occupation, and would tend also to 

 induce interested students to follow up the "more strictly vocational aspects 

 of iiiOdern science to agricultural art." 



Agriculture in the public schools, W. C. Weleorx {Dallas Semi-Weekly 

 Farm Ncivs, 1910, Jan. 7). — This address, given at the Texas State Teachers' 

 Association at Dallas, emphasizes the popular demand for school agriculture 

 by citing resolutions adopted at various educational -conventions, and points out 

 the educational values of the subject. It contrasts the interest of pupils in 

 " things that are at ai> average of 4.000 miles from home " with those within 

 a radius of a mile from the schoolhouse. The author also points out the in- 

 crease of individual earning power that comes from definite industrial training 

 and suggests i)ractical means of correlating agricultural study with other school 

 subjects and with the vocational interests of the community. 



Agriculture a fad, E. G. Cheyxey (Minn. Farm Rev., lo {JDIO), Xo. 5, pp. 

 V7, 9S, 112). — The author deprecates the demand for the raiiid introduction of 

 agricultural study into the schools of the Middle West before teachers have 

 been properly prepared for such instruction. He holds that the " elements of 

 agriculture are already known to most farm boys and that advanced instruction 

 in practical farming is not possible in the rural schools." In city schools he 

 believes that elementary agriculture would be l)oth educational and highly 

 interesting. He especially disaiiproves the belittling of "culture" that is fre- 

 quently heard in the special agricultural schools, and regards the broadening 

 influence of " art, music, philosophy, history, literature, and the like," as par- 

 ticularly needful on the farm as a compensation for the lack of urban advan- 

 tages for amusement and social contentment. 



Gardening in institutions, B. Hall (Surrey. 23 (1010). Xo. 25, pp. 939-9 J,6, 

 figs. 9). — This article describes the beneficial results that have come from 

 garden work in reformatory institutions, hospital.s, and training schools in 

 various parts of the United States, particularly at the Bellevue Hospital Home 

 (for tuberculous patients), the school gardens on Randall's Island, the State 

 Agricultural and Industrial School at Industry, the New York Orphan Asylum 

 at Hastings-on-Hudson, and the State Reformatory for Women, all in the Stato 

 of New York ; the Chilocco Training School, in Chilocco, Oklahoma ; the North- 

 ampton State Hospital for Women, in Massachusetts; and the Ohio State 

 Reforniatorj; at Mansfield. 



Little gardens for boys and girls, Myrta M. Higgins { Boston and Xew 

 York, 1910. pp. XI +1.53, ph. 8, figs. !,, dgms. 9).— This book, based on the 

 experience of the author, has been written for children " who have neither 

 greenhouses nor old established gardens." Its aim is to explain clearly the. 

 simpler operations of gardening and " to arouse an interest in plant life that 

 will be lasting and helpful." It deals with garden equipment, and the work 

 of the different seasons and indoor gardening in winter. 



Industrial contests for boys and girls, G. I. Christie and Henrietta W. 

 Calvin { Indiana Sta. Circ. 19, pp. 11. figs. 2).— Corn-growing, bread-baking, and 

 butter-making contests have now been organized in 45 counties of Indiana. 

 Working plans are suggested for the organization of boys' and girls' clubs, 



