1919] AGRICULTURAL EDUCATIOIT. 697 



The agricultural short course in the high school, C. K. McWilliams 

 (School Sci. and Math., 19 (1919), No. 7, pp. 61^-618).— The author finds that 

 Minnesota and Wisconsin have taken the lead in tlie organization of these 

 short courses. Minnesota has for some time made the holding of a short 

 course in agriculture a part of the requirement for high scliool State aid. In 

 Wisconsin, high schools may establish winter courses beginning between 

 October 30 and November 10. The State provides aid to the extent of two- 

 thirds of the salaries of additional teachers required in not more than 15 high 

 schools and not to exceed $500 a school. The course must be approved by the 

 State superintendent of public instruction. In Oregon a unique form of 

 organization is being tried out this year, In which each year's work in agri- 

 culture is divided into four units, and two units of each semester are alter- 

 nated each year. This enables the boys to attend only In the winter months, 

 and yet to take all of the work offered in agriculture. 



The short course which has been in successful operation for six years at the 

 Geneseo, 111., township high school, is briefly described. There is no sequence 

 of subjects, and the stiident may enter any year. Since the agriculture is 

 operated under the Snfith-Hughes law the boys of the short course, as well as 

 those in the regular course In agriculture, carry out a project during the sum- 

 mer months. The short course diploma is awarded on completion of the full 

 four years' work. 



The author finds books dealing with the specific subjects preferable to a 

 text in general agriculture, and gives a brief list of texts. In his opinion the 

 problem of the length of the course and when to begin It Is not one of a nice 

 adjustment to the course of study, but rather the best accommodation to the 

 boy. He also prefers the employment of the regular teaching staff, provided 

 It Is not already overburdened, to the employment of a special teacher for this 

 work. The entrance requirements should not be so rigid as for regular high 

 school work. 



School gardens, S. H. Fremantle (Agr. Jour. India, llf (1919), No. 2, pp. 

 256-264, Pl- !)• — In order to encourage the organization of school gardens as an 

 essential factor in a truly rural education, the author explains the objects of 

 the school garden In India and outlines a plan for laying out a garden which 

 Involves cooperation with the local educational, agricultural, and horticultural 

 authorities to bring It into effect. In the author's knowledge there has been 

 no organized effort to provide either teachers of nature study or school gar- 

 dens as reconfmended by the Government of India in 1913. 



Applied economic botany, M. T. Cook (Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincoti Co., 

 1919, pp. XVIII +261, pi. 1, figs. 151).— The aims of the author In this book are 

 to give a brief statement of the recognized facts and principles concerning 

 plants and plant growth for secondary schools, a list of simple exercises and 

 suggestions for observations which the pupil can conduct without gi-eat diffi- 

 culty, and which will demonstrate many of the statements made in the book, 

 and a list of questions which are Intended to be suggestive to the pupils and 

 to encourage further studies. Suggestions are also given with reference to 

 necessary equipment and method. References to helpful literature and a 

 glossary are appended. 



A demonstration of the coeflacient of correlation, for elementary students 

 of plant breeding, H. F. Roberts (School Sd. and Math., 19 (1919), No. 7, pp. 

 619-628, figs. 7). — This is a discussion of a method of demonstrating the co- 

 efficient of correlation for use when biometric work forms a part of the 

 schedule in agricultural classes In plant breeding. 



