TO THE TEACHER vii 



insects is, of course, in the field in connection with the soil 

 and plant life whenever they are available. 



Specimens of woods. A collection of native woods 

 is one of the most interesting and easy to make. Every 

 pupil will be glad to take part in the work. Samples of 

 the leaves should also be collected and preserved. Such a 

 collection will supply the basis for a study of trees, and 

 should result in each pupil being able to identify native 

 trees at sight, by their leaves, wood and habits of growth. 

 Pupils should not be permitted, however, to destroy useful 

 plants for the sake of school specimens. The best exhibit of 

 woods and tree interests is a well managed, growing wood 

 lot on the school or home grounds. 



7. Method of Instruction 



It is neither possible nor desirable in this place to give 

 detailed discussion as to the methods of teaching agricul- 

 ture. Certain broad and fundamental principals may, how- 

 ever, be stated. 



Seeking knowledge at first hand. From the very 

 first day, the pupils should be made to feel that the study of 

 agriculture is the study of the actual problems of the farm 

 crops, soils, animals, and all else that goes to make up 

 the life of the farm. To "get a lesson," is therefore not 

 to commit to memory what the text may say on a certain 

 subject, but to use the text-book and all other available 

 helps to master fully the problem at hand in the study of 

 an ear of corn, the cotton plant, the preparation of the seed 

 bed, the fertilizing of a field, or the feeding and management 

 of a flock or herd. 



Use of the text-book. The text-book is arranged to 

 give as natural and interesting an approach as possible to 

 each chapter or topic. There is hardly a text-book lesson 

 for a single day which does not provide for some practical 



