2 BULLETIN v 305, L T . S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



work that may be substituted. Nothing definite is said concerning 

 the place this work should take in the daily program, but it is sug- 

 gested that the period of one or two regular classes be used once or 

 twice each week. In other words, it need not be treated as an addi- 

 tional subject in the curriculum but for the sake of its own importance 

 and the vitalizing influence on the other public school subjects this 

 work should be substituted for one or two other recitations each 

 week in the several grades. 



All publications referred to in this bulletin may be had free while 

 the supply lasts from the U. S. Department of Agriculture, Wash- 

 ington, D. C. 



SEPTEMBER. 



(Plate I.) 



To Teachers. — The accompanying calendar is a suggestion. One similar to this 

 should occupy a conspicuous place on the blackboard or on a large wall placard. The 

 idea is to have each month some striking feature of nature or of farm life. The calendar 

 may be prepared and decorated by the teacher, or a drawing contest can be conducted 

 with the pupils, awarding to the winner the privilege of making and decorating the 

 calendar. 1 



FIRST AND SECOND GRADES. 



The work of these grades for the year consists of learning the 

 names of the animals and plants of the community, giving special 

 attention to birds as to where they five, what they eat, and their 

 nesting habits, and to garden flowers and vegetables as to seasons in 

 which they grow. Individual birds and plants are studied. 



Review. — Review the pupils in plants to ascertain what they already 

 know. 



Assigned work. — What seeds are being sown in the home or school 

 garden this month — lettuce, radishes? What plants are up and 

 beginning to grow — Irish potatoes, turnips? What plants are in 

 bloom — late corn, okra? What plants maturing or ripening seed — 

 onions, pepper, tomatoes, pole beans ? How do these plants grow — 

 on beds, rows? Do the vines or stalks run on the ground, stand 

 erect, or are they supported by frames and poles? 



Practical exercises, — Have pupils bring to school roots, leaves, 

 flowers, and seed of garden plants for study. Mount typical speci- 

 mens of each. (See Farmers' Bui. 586.) 



The pupils of this grade should start two or three winter vegetables 

 in the school or home plat. (See planting table in the Appendix.) 



Make frequent trips to the school garden to study seed in process 

 of germination and to learn the names of the parts of the plantlets. 



i The calendar suggestions were furnished by Miss Margaret McAdory, Manual Training Supervisor, 

 Birmingham, Ala. 



