12 BULLETIN 132, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



The history of the practice of testing seed in the community and county showing 

 the different methods employed, and the effect in crop production should be studied. 

 A study of the different fruit crops of the community and county as to their introduc- 

 tion, success or failure, and why, should be made. The history of plant diseases and 

 insects, showing how and when introduced and the successful and unsuccessful 

 methods of combating them should constitute part of the correlation work of the 

 month. 



GEOGRAPHY. 



The con-elation work in geography for the month should consist in naming and 

 locating the farmers of the community and county that have practiced seed testing. 

 Name and locate the plant diseases that obtain in the community and county, setting 

 forth the conditions favorable and unfavorable to the propagation of the same and 

 the effect that the appearance of these diseases and insects have had upon the agricul- 

 tural interests. What conditions < f climate, altitude, and soil obtain faA'orable and 

 unfavorable to fruit growing. 



ARITHMETIC. 



For the younger pupils work may be assigned involving the determining of the 

 number of checks in seed testers, the cost in time and material of making them, and 

 the value of the time sj3ent in testing seed. For more advanced pupils problems 

 should be developed involving the value of testing seed, the value of the time spent 

 in such work, and the loss that would be sustained in poor stands by failure to do it 

 properly. These processes may be multiplied to include as many principles of 

 arithmetic as desired. Problems involving the cost of spraying mixtures, and 

 the time employed in their application should be developed. The work should be 

 extended to the saving in fruit crops and the value of the time and means expended 

 in this way. Let your problems be based as nearly as possible upon local experiences. 



EXCURSIONS AND PRACTICAL WORK. 



Excursions should be made this month for the purpose of observing diseased orchards 

 and learning to distinguish the different diseases affecting the plants of the same. 

 Specimens of diseased plants and vegetables should be brought from the homes of the 

 community for study in the school. Special attention should be given to the seeds 

 that are to be planted in the school garden. As a matter of precaution all seeds should 

 be subjected to preventive treatment in order that the school or home garden may 

 not become infested with diseases. 



The practical work of the month should consist of testing the vitality of seeds to be 

 planted in the garden, pruning of school or home ground shrubbery, preparing 

 ground, and planting early vegetables. 



MARCH. 



LANGUAGE LESSONS. 



Have the younger pupils engage in conversation and prepare short written state- 

 ments concerning the kinds of birds, their habits and their means of subsistence. 

 ( )ral and written statements should be required of the more advanced pupils con- 

 cerning the habits of birds, their means of subsistence, and migrations. These stories 

 should be based on observations made on the school grounds and during excursions 

 made to the fields and woods. Written descriptions of nests and their locations should 

 be required of the more advanced pupils. Reasons should be sought and assigned 

 for the nesting- habits of different birds. 



