i58 ELEMENTS OF FARM PRAGTIOB 



an inspiration. In every hive there is a queen, several 

 drones, and several thousand workers. The workers go 

 through a regular course of training that fits them for their 

 work. Then they work industriously as long as they live, 

 which is usually only a few weeks. Write to the U. S. 

 Department of Agriculture at Washington, D. C, or to 

 your State College of Agriculture for information about 

 bees. 

 Questions: 



1. Name as many of the common birds of your community as 

 you can and tell whether they are useful or harmful. 



2. How may one encourage the nesting of birds about one's 

 home? Why is it advisable to do this? 



3. Tell what you can about bees. 

 Arithmetic: 



1. It has been estimated that insects cause a loss of $700,000,000 

 annually to farm crops in the United States. How much does this 

 loss amount to per farm? (There are 7,000,000 farms in the United 

 States.) 



2. If, by destroying the birds, this loss from insects were doubled, 

 what would be the total loss in the United States? What would be 

 the total loss per farm? 



3. If, by protecting useful birds and increasing their numbers 

 the loss could be reduced 50%, what would be the total saving in the 

 United States? What would be the total saving per farm? 



Exercises: 



1. As many pupils as can do so should keep at least a few pure- 

 bred fowls of some chosen breed. A careful record of all expenses 

 and returns should be kept. Report results at end of the school year. 



2. Weigh a dozen large eggs and then a dozen small ones. Note 

 the difference. Proportionately, how much more valuable are the larger 



3. If interested in raising large flocks of chickens, get bulletins 

 on incubators and brooders. Also try to examine an incubator and 

 observe one in use. 



4. Put some suet or grain outside for birds in winter. In some 

 shady spot make a place for birds to drink and bathe in the summer 

 time. 



5. Find out what a hive of bees costs, how much it costs to keep 

 it, and what average returns may be expected from it. Show also in 

 what respect bees are valuable aside from being a money maker. 



