14 BULLETIN" 281, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



poultry pens light, well-ventilated and with ample room for exercise. 

 The same idea must be applied to stables for dairy cows. How guard 

 against vermin in the flock ? Show how the food demand changes as 

 winter comes. Suggest succulent winter foods for poultry and 

 dairy. 



Develop the topic of apples and other fruit for human food. Con- 

 sult Farmers' Bui. 293, Use of Fruit as Food. Compare eggs and 

 milk with other animal foods for cost and food value. Demonstrate 

 the variety in supply of fresh foods on the farm. (See Farmers' Bui. 

 635.) 



DECEMBER. 



Practical and field exercises. — Plan to have pupils visit successful 

 dairy farms to inspect typical animals and learn of points. Investi- 

 gate also the management, the feed practice, and marketing. 



Begin practice in milk testing at school if possible. Begin practice 

 in corn judging. Examine soils in school collection and distinguish 

 by appearance and feeling sand, clay, gravel, and humus. 



Make a record of winter birds, when and where seen, what food and 

 other habits. (See Farmers' Buls. 54, 456, 497, 506, 609, 621, and 

 630.) Strive to observe accurately. Use Birds in Their Relation to 

 Man, by Weed and Dearborn, or similar books. 



Language lessons. — Have report of dairy inspection carefully writ- 

 ten. Require descriptions of an ideal ear of corn or of the best cow 

 on the home farm. Write with care the plan for selecting a suitable 

 ration for either the hens or the dairy cow. Write the directions for 

 testing milk with Babcock tester. Make out with care reports or 

 records on work done or observations made. Keep these for refer- 

 ence. Careful figures, plain writing, correct spelling, and clear state- 

 ments are necessary on all club reports and often win the contest. 



Reading and spelling. — Select supplementary readings giving an 

 appreciation of the freedom, security, and happiness in the country 

 in winter, such as Snow Bound — Whittier; Our Rural Divinity — 

 Burroughs; The Winter herd scene in "Shovclhorns" — Hawkes; 

 Wood-craft — Boy Scout's Manual; and Stories of Luther Burbank's 

 work. Memorize The Boys That Rule the World and other poems. 



Along the lines of suggested practical exercises read from available 

 bulletins. Consult poultry bulletins previously mentioned, also 

 Farmers' Buls. 413, ('are of Milk and Its Use in the Home; 490, Bac- 

 teria in MUk; 530, Important Poultry Diseases; 602, Production of 

 ( Kan Milk. If there is not published in the State a bulletin on the 

 liabeock test one may be procured from another State or from 

 manufacturers of testing machines. 



