FIELD AND LABORATORY EXERCISES 453 



architecture, (f) Removal of unsightly objects, as sign boards 

 and unsightly shanties, (g) Planning roads and driveways. 



Beautifying of the Home. Landscape gardening in the country 

 is practiced chiefly by suburban residents, but the farmer who 

 owns a home should try to make it attractive. The planting of 

 trees, shrubs and vines according to a fixed plan which the owner 

 has worked out after careful study will do much to make the 

 place attractive and the cost will be very slight. The use of paint 

 and whitewash on the buildings and fences will help to give a 

 feeling of prosperity, comfort and contentment. The cleaning 

 up of the premises will aid not only in the training of young people 

 and the public in general, but it will have a wholesome influence 

 upon the farmer and his family (Figs. 311 and 312). 



FIELD AND LABORATORY EXERCISES 



1. Rural School Conditions. Get reports from the County Superinten- 

 dents or others who may be informed regarding the work and conditions 

 existing in several rural schools of your county. Compare these regarding all 

 of the information obtainable. For example: (a) Efforts for the beautifica- 

 tion of the grounds, (b) The teaching of such practical subjects as school 

 gardening, cooking, sewing, woodwork, and other handiwork. (c) The 

 correlation of these subjects to the old line subjects of the school, (d) The 

 number of school months in the year, (e) The percentage of attendance. 

 (f) The extension of the school work to the people of that district. 



2. A social and religious survey of the region may be conducted by mem- 

 bers of the school to obtain the numbers of people who would be glad to par- 

 ticipate in social activities such as some of those mentioned in this chapter, 

 or who are already doing so. Find what percentage of the people who are old 

 enough say over eight years of age are actually attending religious ex- 

 ercises, either church or Sunday school, somewhat regularly. If there be no 

 church meetings or Sunday school meetings in the community, ascertain the 

 total number who would attend such meetings if they were started. 



3. Compare with Other Communities. Obtain reports from other com- 

 munities either in the same county or in nearby counties, and compare the 

 facts obtained in the local survey with those in other places. Have any of these 

 communities more churches to support than they need? Can you suggest a 

 solution of this difficulty? 



4. Road Materials. Collect and study the materials available in your 

 neighborhood that are suitable for road building. What combinations of 

 these materials are sometimes made? Classify the materials according to 

 superiority and also according to cost. 



5. Make a road survey of the region and determine the percentage of 

 graded roads and also the percentage of hard surfaced (paved) roads. 



6. Rural Telephones. If there are no local telephones in the neighbor- 

 hood, obtain prices from telephone companies or houses supplying telephone 

 materials and calculate the cost of poles, wires and instruments for a suitable 

 local line or exchange. 



7. Make a survey of the region chosen to determine how many would 

 consider the installation of a telephone in their homes. 



8. Use of Rural Mail Service. By inquiry ascertain how many of the 

 people nearby who are served by the rural free delivery of mails make daily use 

 of the mails, by obtaining market reports, taking daily papers, or otherwise. 



