506 NATURE-STUDY 



very simple and avoid theory. (246 " Good seed corn," U. S. 

 Agricultural Year-books.) Explain in an untechnical way 

 how hybrids are produced, and apply to horticultural methods 

 of getting new varieties of flowers and fruits. (156, 158, 166, 



Experimental cultivation of plants at state and U. S. 

 Experiment Stations to get better producing varieties, more 

 drought or cold resistant kinds. Experiments in adapting 

 crops to special soils, climates, etc. Refer to apple tests 

 (what kinds are the best adapted locally why?), macaroni 

 wheat, and alfalfa. Why is each variety specially suitable 

 for the region ? (U. S. Agricultural Year-books, State Agri- 

 cultural Reports, Reports of Farmers' Institutes, 233.) Discuss 

 with the map the chief agricultural or crop regions in the 

 United States and consider the special climatic, soil, or other 

 features to be taken into account. (Geographies, commer- 

 cial geographies, physical geographies, U. S. Agricultural 

 Year-books. 246 "The Apple and how to Grow it." 



INTRODUCTION OF FOREIGN PLANTS IN SUITABLE REGIONS : 

 Orange, lemon, figs, dates, Siberian apples, Russian semi-arid 

 wheat, Indian millets, Japanese flowers, Australian eucalyptus 

 trees, etc. Most of our fruits, vegetables, flowers, and grains 

 have been introduced. What are our native useful plants? 

 U. S. Agricultural Year-books; 238; Willis's "Practical 

 Flora"; 213. Commercial geographies.) 



GARDENING: Greenhouse work. (See Chapter XVI.) 

 Layering, cutting, grafting, budding (roses, nursery stock). 

 Cross-pollination by hand. Forcing flowers and vegetables. 

 Seed purity tests. (221, 229, 241, 222, 226, 232.) Indoor 

 window culture in school-room. (See list, Chapter XVI. 

 235, 221, 229.) 



