SIXTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— TART VIII. 861 



Frank, too. comes home just as papa is teliing mamma that the worms 

 are eating all the leaves off the currant bushes. Don't you think Franky 

 would tell his 'papa how to get rid of the peSt? I know Franky would 

 tell his papa what they had read about tnat at school. More than that, 

 Frank would go into the garden every day, especially after the currant 

 bushes had been sprinkled with the hellebore mixture, to see how the 

 currants were coming. Frank would feel that he was a factor in making 

 that currant growing a success. He would feel an interest in the farm; 

 and that boy would probably not leave the farm for the city. I don't 

 believe that the boy would wait until his father told him or his mamma 

 that there v.ere no worms on the currants, but after school when they had 

 had a lessen about the currant worm, you would find Frank in the garden 

 looking for the worms, and he would probably find them before his papjs. 



Not only should a book on agriculture be one of the books in the 

 regular reading course but the teachers too should be required to read 

 some books along that line. This was actually done last year in the 

 reading circle work and I am sure that many profited by reading the 

 book "The School and Farm" by Chas. A. Eggert. 



In addition to this the president and secretary of each school corpora- 

 tion should select for their libraries at least a few good books on 

 agriculture. It might be a good plan to adopt some kind of a merit 

 system, giving the pupil credit for reading these books under the direc- 

 tion and guidance of the teacher. Perhaps a small gift to the boy or 

 girl giving the best book review might be a good stimulant to make them 

 read the books. 



I am not in favor of going into the subject very deeply. A few good 

 books, written in simple language, well indexed, so as to serve as a 

 reference book at home later, is in my opinion sufficient. If further 

 education along the line is desired, send the boy to the agricultural 

 college during the winter months, and there get the required training. 



I have taken more of your time than I expected to. I know some 

 of j-ou, perhaps many of 3'ou are getting tired, and yet I have not said 

 very much. Perhaps I am not one of those fellows that can say much in 

 a few words. But I wish to leave this thuoght with you at least that 

 there is room for improvement on the farm, but that it is more important 

 to improve the farmer. You have all heard the expression "Take care ot 

 the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves." So also, I 

 believe we might say: Improve the farmer and the farm will take care of 

 itself. 



I see by the program that we will have one more paper along the 

 same line; also that the papers are to be discussed. I hope that better 

 points than I have brought out will be brought up. We have met here 

 together to learn from one another; to get each other's ideas. If some 

 one does not think as I do, let us hear from you frankly. If some one 

 perhaps would like to see a solid course of agriculture introduced into 

 the public schools, make the fact known and give your reasons. If 

 another should happen to agree with me or the other man as to the amoun 

 of work done, but would like to have it taught differently, let us hear 



