to acquire the habit of making close obsciNatious iiiid ciU-el'ully i-e'conl- 

 ing the same. Your teacher will show you how to make the notes 

 in yonr book. 



8. From time to time during the season make careful observations, 

 always comparing the several plats of the group with each other, an, I 

 note in your book the points of interest. 



9. Be on the lookout for the first appearance of rust on wheat, 

 oats, rve and corn. Examine both upper and under surfaces of leaves. 

 I'^ote to what extent each vai-iety is affected by rust. 



10. ISTote what per cent, of smutted heads appears in wheat, oats, 

 and rye. Be very careful to note the effect of treatment of seed on 

 the amount of smut present. 



11. Xote when and where corn smut first makes its appearance, 

 and whether any varieties show more smutted stalks than others. 

 Note how many of the smutted stalks produce no ears. Extend your 

 observations to the fields of corn near by. By counting stalks in the 

 field with and without smut, and noting the per cent, of ears in each 

 lot, you may learn how the proportion of grain is affected by smut. 



12. If any plants become sickly or die before they mature, try to 

 find the cause. It is quite likely to be the work of some injurious in- 

 sect. If you do not look very carefully, the little fellows may escape 

 notice. Prove that boys have "sharp eyes" l>y finding and capturing 



the culprits. 



13. It will be necessary to continue operations on your school 

 farm' during the summer vacation. Six or eight of you can do this 

 by taking "turns" on successive weeks. Why not organize a School 

 Earm Club and elect one of the older boys Director of Experiments? 

 If no one of the scholars feels competent to take charge of the experi- 

 ments, invite some wide-awake, progressive young farmer of the neigh- 

 borhood to act as director. 



Your teacher will cheerfully aid you to organize and conduct such 

 a club You could meet each fortnight at the school house and com- 

 pare notes and observations. You would find such a club both inter- 

 esting and profitable. 



14 In performing the experiments many puzzling questions will 

 arise as to principles and methods of cropping. If your school farm 

 does not give vou the answers consult the other leafiets of this series. 

 Consult also ^our teacher, parents and others, and if you are not 

 fully satisfied; write to me, and I will try to give you the desired 

 information. I will be glad to hear from you at any time, and will 

 be especially pleased to have you report anything of interest m con- 

 nection with your school farm. 



