THE 



NATURE-STUDY REVIEW^ 



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Subscriptions, Manuscripts for Publication and Books to be Reviewed should be 



sent to the Editor. 



\'0L. 8 September, 1912 Xo. 6 



Nature Study and Elementary Agriculture 



Anna Botsford Comstock. 



In looking over the literature, including text-books, outlines 

 for study and leaflets on elementary agriculture, we are forced 

 to the conclusion that a comparatively limited amount of subject- 

 matter may be thus taught. The writers of these books and leal- 

 lets find themselves restricted to lessons on the care of potrftry',. 

 the uses and treatment of cattle and other stock, and methods of 

 raising a few of the common field crops. In fact, there is a great 

 difference in the amount of agriculture which may be taught as 

 such, in the elementary schools and that which may be taught 

 in the high schools. 



The country teacher finds that when she has had a corn show, 

 a potato show, or perhaps a show of some leading garden crop, 

 she must repeat the same next year, and too often the interest 

 wanes after a year or two of this competition. It is rare indeed 

 when a country school offers exhibits of this kind, for three con- 

 secutive years. It is natural for the children to get tired of do- 

 ing the same thing over and over unless the premiums are so great 

 as to overcome this natural disinclination. 



It is with no thought of belittling the work of elementary 

 agriculture that this statement is made. The writer believes that 

 the corn shows and poultry shows and all such work in our coun- 

 try schools is of inestimable service to the pupils and to agri- 

 culture. It is, instead, with an intent to strengthen the weakest 

 point in the teaching of elementary agriculture that the following 

 suggestions are given : 



If the teacher learns to base her agricultural work upon 

 nature-study she can, to a large extent, overcome the above men- 

 tioned difficulty. Thus when the boys are growing corn, she can 

 give them a series of experiments to show the nature of the corn 

 plant ; and when they are working out their stock problems, she 



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