728 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
We believe neighborhood organization would be an aid to cultivating 
this disposition to learn in the farmer. Let the teacher, aided by a few 
of the most progressive farmers, form a club, the aim of which shall be 
a larger and better supply of agricultural knowledge. Persuade every 
man, woman and child in the neighborhood to be a member and partici- 
pate in discussions of agricultural problems. The best journals devoted 
to farming interests are doing an inestimable amount of good in awaken- 
ing men and women to their responsibilities and opportunities as tillers 
of the soil. If all would read, assimilate, and then put into practice the 
information these publications are disseminating an epoch of remarkable 
progress would follow. Would it be amiss to compare the reading ele- 
ment among farmers to the parable of the sower? He who reads with 
the purpose of gaining and applying knowledge would represent the fertile 
soil on which the seed fell and brought forth abundantly; those who read 
understandingly, but are not enterprising enough to carry out the ideas 
thus gained, would correspond to the thin soil upon which the seed fell, 
sprang up, but straightway withered; lastly, those who read uncompre- 
hensive or not at all suggest the wayside upon which the seed fell and 
was trodden upon or devoured by the fowls of the air. We believe the 
last two classes represent a majority, they are satisfied with present con- 
ditions, giving no thought to improvement. It seems probable that the 
neighborhood club would be a means of getting this class in touch with 
up-to-date ideas. Scientific feeding, improving plants and animals by 
selection, a study of the noxious weeds of the locality, and the best and 
easiest way of eradicating them, insect enemies, plant diseases; beauti- 
fying the homestead, and farm sanitation are a few of the topics on which 
the average farmer has everything to learn. Books on these subjects and 
articles taken from reliable journals would furnish interesting and in- 
structive reading at club meetings and supplementary reading at school. 
Pupils would become familiar with terms commonly used in scientific agri- 
culture, and enable and encourage them to read these publications intel- 
ligently, and wouldn't the study of these and similar subjects develop the 
intellect and broaden the mind quite as much as reading ancient fables 
and myths or studying latin and algebra? 
The country school offers the best facilities for nature study, and 
would help the little folks see the attractive side of farm life. Get them 
familiar with birds that frequent your locality, learning to distinguish 
them by name would be fascinating to both large and small pupils. The 
same can be said of insect life and elementary botany, and instead of 
adding to the work of the teacher it would lighten her work by making 
reading and language study interesting. The bugbear of every country 
school boy is language work. The most important study and most neg- 
lected. Surely in having something interesting to say, the saying in 
suitable language would be easier and composition shorn of some of its 
terrors. 
In forming the club the most capable should be elected as officers and 
serve not in a spirit of patronage but of comradeship. Energy, diplo- 
macy and unlimited perseverance, and the two proverbial bears (bear 
and forbear) will be indispensable to insure success. It will be hard work 
