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Courses in elementary agriculture furnish a preparation for 

 the direct vocational work in schools of higher grade. Pupils 

 who have carried out one or more garden enterprises have ac- 

 quired some knowledge of elementary methods in farming, and 

 some information regarding the vegetable raised, soil, weather 

 conditions, effects of fertilizer, heat, light and moisture. They 

 thus come to the more advanced work with a large body of 

 experience, which the secondary school teacher may utilize to 

 advantage. 



Agencies to Promote Elementary Agriculture. 



1. Nature Study. In the early years of the school life of 

 the pupil he is led to observe plant and animal life, and gains 

 a considerable body of experience relating to the phenomena 

 of weather, soils and local natural history. When elementary 

 instruction in agriculture has been thoroughly established and 

 systematized, it will be possible to direct and shape nature 

 study so as to give it more definite aims and purposes than at 

 present, and at the same time to retain the quality in that study 

 which makes for appreciation and enjoyment of nature. 



2. School Gardens. The school garden is winning a place 

 in the public schools of the State. Through the undertakings 

 involved in gardening, the pupil gains experience, knowledge 

 and skill in certain processes connected with farming. It is 

 desirable that the school-garden work should be so directed 

 as to give the pupil a definite task, in accomplishing which he 

 must overcome real difficulties in the soil, learn to protect his 

 crop against insect pests and against untoward weather condi- 

 tions, and finally secure a tangible and measurable product. 

 The school garden may thus closely approximate actual farm- 

 ing conditions. The normal schools of the State, particularly 

 at North Adams and Hyannis, are giving serious attention to 

 school gardening of this character. Use is being made in 

 this activity of the motives that underlie social and collective 

 action, while opportunity is afforded for wholesome rivalry and 

 for desire for individual excellence. 



3. Potato and Corn Clubs. Under the auspices of the Mas- 

 sachusetts Agricultural College, a large number of boys in dif- 

 ferent parts of the State have been organized into societies for 



