54 Agricultural Instruction in the Public High Sclwols 



the following spring. One had 54 ears, or about half a bushel. 

 Five kernels from each ear were tested. Of the 270 kernels, 

 260 germinated, making over 96 per cent. Another tested 100 

 ears, getting a result of 95 per cent. He rejected 2 ears but 

 did not enter the percentage of those ears in his record. A 

 third tested 49 ears. Some of the reports that were inspected 

 showed great care and a truly scientific attitude toward the 

 work. 



The girls w^ere supposed to do a little work in plant propaga- 

 tion with geranium slips. Owing to the clumsy work done by 

 the girls individually in previous years, the instructor was doing 

 most of the work for the members of the class. Considerable 

 work had been done with insects. Samples of scale were brought 

 in. Various insects that had been collected w^ere displayed in 

 glass mounts made by the janitor. These were glass boxes 3 

 by 5 inches, with glass tops and bottoms spaced ^ inch apart, 

 and separated by four wooden sides and corners. 



It may not be amiss to speak here of certain points that could 

 not well be noted under the individual schools. These seven 

 schools are in communities of nearly the same population and 

 having very similar interests. None of the schools enrolls more 

 than 100 pupils. The teaching force ranges from two tD three 

 instructors, including the superintendent, who must give some 

 time to the supervision of grade work. The instructors in 

 agriculture with one exception are men under middle age. Nor 

 does age in the one case seem to have any inhibitive effect on 

 enthusiasm or a progressive spirit, for this gentleman has at- 

 tended several summer sessions at the University of Chicago 

 and has since earned his degree. But two of the seven held 

 degrees from colleges requiring four years for graduation. The 

 college work of the other five ranged from two years or less 

 to three and one-half years. One of these was a normal school 

 graduate. Several had been pursuing summer courses and 

 were planning to continue them. Two of the seven grew up 

 on farms. Another, whose father moved to town in the future 

 superintendent's early boyhood " to give the boys a chance," 

 has since acquired considerable practical experience in farm 

 management. In all cases there seemed to be essential agree- 



