x PREFACE 



teachers, to find time for these field trips, they should, 

 if possible, be made. The gain in power to observe 

 closely and describe carefully more than repays for the 

 time spent. It is hoped, however, that time can be 

 found for field trips, that the students may be courte- 

 ous to those who assist them, and that they will care- 

 fully write up the observations. The ideal of every 

 one should be to observe closely and to describe accu- 

 rately. Of course all observations should be carefully 

 written up, and it should be understood that excur- 

 sions made with the teacher are for a definite purpose. 

 They are school work in the field. 



Perhaps the best results from field observations will 

 come from student trips which are made alone or in 

 small groups. Many observations of this kind may 

 be made while traveling at vacation time. Not all 

 have the privilege of travel, yet those who do may see 

 industrial things well worth the time and expense. 

 A trip to a big wheat farm of the West, or to a large 

 flour mill at Buffalo or Minneapolis, will be a pleasure 

 when made for a purpose. 



Collecting Specimens.- The wheat plant in different 

 stages of growth may be collected from the field by 

 students or secured by writing to persons who live in 

 wheat-growing regions. Some school supply houses 

 sell these, as well as wheat products, for school use. 

 A very good place to see illustrative materials is in 

 commercial museums of cities. Some of the large 

 milling companies send specimens of wheat and its 



