TOPICAL OUTLINE BY GRADES AND SEASONS 103 



data; this work finally includes barometric pressure, dry 

 and wet bulb reading, maximum and minimum reading, 

 wind direction and estimated velocity, clouds as to amount 

 and kind, precipitation, and the recording of dew-point 

 and relative humidity; in connection with the interpreta- 

 tion of observations and in explaining instruments, the 

 mechanics of liquids and gases is experimentally studied; 

 study of the weather maps, monthly weather reports, and 

 mechanics of Weather Bureau; a notebook is kept. 



Winter. — The human body. 



Spring. — Garden: Corn; germination tests of the ears 

 gathered the previous fall; study of corn kernels as to 

 structure and food content; corn culture with experiments 

 in school and home gardens; study of corn as a plant type; 

 its commercial value; means of improvement of the crop; 

 sweet potato culture; raise plants in coldframe or green- 

 house; melon family; watermelon, muskmelon, citron, and 

 cucumber; take home for trial seeds of various varieties of 

 melon family; plant vinca, euphorbia, zinnia, calliopsis, 

 centaurea, blue sage; grape; habits of growth; flower; 

 fruit; methods of pruning and spraying; transplant grape 

 cuttings made in the previous fall; comparative study of 

 relatives of the grape, the five-leaved ivy, the Boston ivy, 

 and the wild grape; continue study of weeds begun in the 

 fall as to their spring aspect. 



Soil Physics: Ground water; ground air; experiments to 

 show the conservation of moisture, porosity, capillarity, and 

 air spaces; show the relation of plants to soil; uses of 

 fertilizers. 



Animals: Earthworm in connection with soil study; 

 beetles found on the melon vines and methods of combating 



