A GRADED COURSE OF NATURE-STUDY 493 



Rusts and blights: Lilac blight, etc., wheat rust, apple 

 rust, aster rust, etc. Observations of general appearance, 

 using a magnifying glass, general effects on the "host." Dis- 

 cuss the damage to wheat crop. These are plant diseases. 

 (U. S. Agricultural Year-books, 154, 156, 153, 222, 241, 230, 

 etc.) 



Winter 

 Animals. 



Mammals: The farm animals, general discussion of 

 their uses, and of the various breeds suitable for one use 

 or another. Apply especially ro cattle. Study of the dairy. 

 Best stock, care, treatment of milk, etc. The creamery and 

 butter making. Milk tests, make some. (231, 241, 226, 228, 

 223, Farm Journals, Year-books of the Department of Ag- 

 riculture, and Farmers' Bulletins, 246 — Nos. 143, 106, 53, 

 241, 42, 64, 184, 34, 205.) 



Plants. 



Trees: The farmer's wood-lot — how to use and keep it. 

 Farm forestry. Planting on the prairies. (220, 219, 218, 217-, 

 Farmer's Bulletin Nos. 228 and 134 in reference 246; U.S. 

 Agricultural Year-books.) 



The Life of a Tree (the Oak *) : Apply the princi- 

 ples of absorption, soil fertility, climatic conditions, trans- 

 piration, flow of sap in stem, relation to the light, starch 

 formation, flowering, pollination, fruit formation, seed dis- 

 persal, yearly growth of stem (annual rings *), yearly growth 

 of twigs,* leaf fall, winter state of buds,* insect enemies, the 

 lumberman, the farmer, forest fires, fungous parasites, storms, 

 decay, death. (Ward's "The Oak," 152, 156, 158, 161, 

 220, 219, 220a, 132, 136, 148.) 



