448 NATURE-STUDY 



books of the U. S. Department of Agriculture.) Refer to 

 sorghum. What use do we make of it ? How is the syrup 

 made ? Study the sugar beet. Get some, press out the juice, 

 boil it down to sugar. (S, T, V, 222, 228, 231, 230, 236, 256, 

 magazine articles. Year-books of the U. S. Department of 

 Agriculture, bulletins from State Agricultural Schools.) 

 Refer to maple syrup and sugar — perhaps make some when 

 sap flows. What does the plant do with the sugar in the sap ? 

 What do we do with it? 



Trees: Observe winter state, recognize those learned 

 before. Bring in buds * and discuss their winter protection. 



(L, 173. 154, 156, 158- 164.) 



Gardening: Culture of potted and window-box plants. 

 (235, 221, 229, etc.) Select plants from list page 297. Grow 

 bulbs — tuHp, daffodil, hyacinth. Lessons in potting. Later, 

 start annuals for transplanting — list page 295. (221, 229, 

 etc.) Distribute seeds of selected plants for competitive pot 

 culture by the pupils at home, each child to have full re- 

 sponsibility for the success of the culture. Give written di- 

 rections for sowing, soil, watering, etc. Exhibit condition 

 of plants at school at the close of spring term, and if 

 still in flower, again at the beginning of next fall. Award 

 prize. 



Make experimental cultures of window plants in sand, clay, 

 loam, and mixtures, giving same amounts of water and 

 same temperatures, using the same kind of plant (bean) of 

 about the same size. Better, plant two or three plants in 

 each kind of soil, as some may perish for unforeseen rea- 

 sons. This work should teach something of the relation 

 of the plant to the character of the soil. (Q, 222, 228, 230, 

 231, etc.) 



