116 MAN ON THE LANDSCAPE 



(5) Collect plant specimens which appear to suffer from mineral 

 deficiencies. Borrow Hunger Signs in Crops from your local or state 

 library. It has excellent color plates. Try your hand at diagnosis. 



; 



CHAPTER IV 



(1) Why not assemble a history of the vegetative changes in 

 your county ? What has happened to the original native plants ? How 

 much of the virgin forest or grassland remains? When was the period 

 of its greatest destruction or injury ? What were the purposes of that 

 destruction? Was it carried to a point which causes regret today? 

 Why? (Get in touch with your county agricultural agent. He can 

 help with these and following questions.) 



(2) Why not make an inventory of the present vegetative re- 

 sources of your county? How much of its area is covered by forest 

 or native grasses. How much is covered the year round by introduced 

 grasses and other plants? How much is covered only seasonally by 

 cultivated or row crops? How much of your county is affected by 

 erosion? How do the yields from eroded land compare with yields 

 from non-eroded land? 



(3) Does the land in your county have enough plants? On the 

 best farms and on the poorest, how many acres are required to support 

 a cow, sheep, or hog? Can you find bare areas, large or small, in fields 

 where plants should be uniformly distributed? Is there any relation 

 between lack of plants, erosion, and living standard of the land user? 

 How much land in your county (or on a certain farm) should be 

 planted to trees or otherwise reforested? 



(4) An interesting display may be constructed by arranging 

 specimens of the raw materials of chemurgy and their industrial prod- 

 ucts. A sheaf of soybeans may be mounted on a panel together with 

 plastic knobs and other gadgets, small bottles of paint, glue, sizing and 

 other soy products. Write to the National Farm Chemurgic Council, 

 North High Street, Columbus, Ohio, for more information. 



CHAPTER V 



Educational Suggestions. Discussion without observation being 

 largely sterile, what can be seen that will aid in understanding this 

 material ? 



(1) An examination of fossil plants and animals is highly 

 desirable, preferably but not necessarily in the field. These are com- 

 mon in limestone and may be found in coal and shale. A check should 

 be made with someone familiar with the geology of the local region 

 to determine the approximate age of the fossils. The implication for 

 the pupil is that the earth has been a long time in developing an 

 environment fit for man, and that he should be wary of destroying it. 



(2) A body or stream of water should be examined carefully to 

 observe the variety of life present, Plants will be found which grow 



