294 NATURE-STUDY 



the County Industrial Schools. Many a boy should be en- 

 couraged to go to such a school, The older pupils should 

 visit such schools if near, and also attend some of the ses- 

 sions of local farmers' institutes. In this way the pupils 

 are shown the possibilities of farming, and also the advan- 

 tages of farm life. 



Books on Gardening : Seed and nursery catalogues, which 

 may be had free from any seed house or nursery, are full of 

 specific cultural directions for the different plants, and also 

 contain much general information about insecticides, fun- 

 gicides, etc. Some of the popular family and farm journals 

 have useful suggestions for gardening. Some of the best 

 books on gardening will be found in the reference list 

 in the Appendix, page 517. 



Insecticides and Fungicides: A complete hst of these 

 need not be given here. Various eed houses have special 

 commercial preparations for different insects, rusts, etc., but 

 the following are among the most universally useful : 



Cut-worms are very troublesome in the spring when the 

 plants are young and tender. Tomato, cabbage, sweet 

 peas, etc., are bitten off near the ground, and drawn into the 

 burrows by the worms. To kill them place a spoonful of 

 poisoned bran at the base of the plant and among the rows. 

 This is a bait the worms will generally eat, especially if 

 placed there before the plants are up or are set out, and there 

 is nothing else to eat. If the plants are few, then a stiff 

 paper collar may be pinned around the base of the plant and 

 set somewhat into the soil. The worms cannot climb over 

 this. Toads placed in the garden are useful friends of the 

 gardener. Let the children bring in the toads they find and 

 liberate them in the garden. 



