Teaching Ekmentary Agriculture 121 



the elements of agriculture and also requiring that 

 the rudiments of this subject be taught in every dis- 

 trict school. Other states have similar laws. As a 

 result of this and like provisions, there is now a tre- 

 mendous awakening in the direction named. The 

 boys and girls in the country schools are finding 

 new meaning and a new interest in the fields and 

 farms upon which they are growing up. 



It is a comparatively simple matter, that of 

 teaching the young how the plant germinates and 

 grows, how the seed is produced, and how farm crops 

 are cared for and harvested. Likewise, it is easy to 

 describe the elements of the various types of soil and 

 to show how these elements contribute to the life 

 and growth of the plant. The questions of moisture 

 in its relation to plant life, of insects harmful and 

 helpful to growing crops and animals, of the bird life 

 as related in its economic aspects to farming all 

 such matters can be easily taught to children by the 

 young-woman school teacher. It is only necessary 

 for the latter to take an elementary course of in- 

 struction herself, to read a number of collateral texts, 

 and to get into the spirit of the undertaking. In a 

 similar manner, instruction in regard to farm animals 

 may be given, the emphasis being placed upon the 

 consideration of the types of live stock actually raised 

 and marketed in the home neighborhood. 



It must be emphasized that these matters relating 

 to elementary agriculture and animal husbandry 



