278 REPORTS ON THE STATE OF SCIENCE, ETC. 



Second Year, 



' Propagation of plants : pollination, fertilisation, cutting, grafting, budding. 



' Farm crops : importance of good seed, rotation of crops, eradication of weeds, 

 prevention of plant diseases, destruction of insect pests, harvesting and storage. 

 Production of wheat and potatoes. 



' Farm animals : horses, cattle, hogs, sheep and poultry, care and management. 



' A study of the cabbage butterfly, the cutworm, the spider, the bird, the gopher. 



' The soil : origin and formation, kinds, weight, texture, colour, porosity. 

 Elements of plant food. Soil water, soil air, soil heat, soil organisms, soil fertility. 

 Tillage and use of farm implements. 



' Farm management : elementary knowledge of the common business transactions 

 of the farm ; crop growth ; cost of production, of marketing, or operation ; buying 

 and selling ; farm labour.' 



Third Year. 



' Review of the work of the first and second years. 



' Consideration of those plants or parts thereof grown for food, clothing, and for 

 building and manufacturing purposes : (o) in the immediate locality ; (6) elsewhere 

 in the Province and other parts of Canada ; (c) imported into Saskatchewan from 

 outside Canada. Plants grown for ornamental purposes, shelter belts and hedges, 

 annuals, biennials, perennials. Propagation of plants, improvement of plants in 

 quality and quantity, selection of plants and seed, specific reference to wheat, oats, etc. 



' Identification of at least ten noxious weeds ; study of root, stem, leaf, flower, 

 seed and seed dispersal, with special reference to best means of eradication. 



' Farm crops : alfalfa and western rye grass, wheat and oats, potatoes and 

 turnips, onions and lettuce, rhubarb and celery, currants and strawberries, spruce, 

 geranium, crocus. 



' A study of plant foods and fertilisers with reference to above crops. 



' Consideration of animal products : for food and man, for food for animals and 

 for clothing : (a) in immediate locality ; (6) elsewhere in Saskatchewan from outside 

 Canada. Study of types of breeds ; feed and food rations and ratios ; care and 

 management, improvement and selection, of cattle, horses, sheep, pigs, poultry. 



' Life-history and control of (a) one or more common plant diseases, e.g. potato 

 blight, cereal rust ; (6) one or more common insect pests, e.g. cutworm. Types and 

 uses of farm implements, cost, care and housing of same with a view to economy. 

 Co-operation in buying and selling, farm accounts, cost of production, etc., planning 

 and equipment of home and home surroundings. Study of local rural organisations 

 and their work. 



' The ultimate success of any phase of school work depends upon the quality of 

 the teaching, hence the necessity for better and more thorough professional training 

 of teachers. By its very nature agriculture cannot become as thoroughly standardised 

 as subjects such as arithmetic, and therefore will suffer at the hands of the poorly 

 trained instructor. The necessity of definite training in agriculture in the Normal 

 Schools has long been recognised, and for many years it has been a regular feature 

 of the course. Consequently every student attending Saskatchewan normal classes 

 receives some instruction in nature study and agriculture. Further, by means of 

 summer courses, institutes, conventions, and personal advice and assistance, the 

 teachers in the field are afl:orded opportunity to become more efficient in their task 

 of dealing with this somewhat difficult subject. 



' In conclusion, it may be stated without any hesitation that there is a gradual 

 improvement in the teaching of agriculture from year to year. Its real place of 

 importance is becoming better understood. There remains, however, much to be 

 done before anything approaching ideal results can be achieved. And, further, 

 there remains to be exploited the great field on the border-line between ediication 

 through agriculture and vocational agriculture, especially among 'teen-age boys and 

 girls.' 



• AUSTRALIA. 



Victoria. 



The Director of Education reports that regular instruction is given in agriculture 

 and horticulture to all boys and girls in the rural schools of Victoria of ages 12 to 16. 

 The work is carefully organised and systematically carried out under skilful 

 supervision. 



