XIV EXPLANATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS 



botanical investigations of vegetables, seed sowing, transplanting, 

 studies of injurious insects and plant diseases, spraying, etc. Every 

 instructor should prepare a schedule of such laboratory exercises 

 as a means of adding interest, understanding, and zest to regular 

 project work. The Gilbert " Guides " referred to in the " Cal- 

 endar " should be useful in this connection. 



Practicums. — Instructors will find that it is important to con- 

 duct certain practicums, or work affording preliminary practice, 

 under the closest supervision. In most instances the project plant- 

 ings will be made at the homes of the pupils, but a certain amount of 

 practice work for the class as a whole, either at the school or at 

 some other convenient point, is almost indispensable as a means of 

 avoiding many mistakes. It is much more effective to show a pupil 

 how to set plants or sow seed than to tell him, and some operations 

 can be shown a small group almost as effectively as an individual. 

 There can be all sorts of simple demonstration work by the instruc- 

 tor in the schoolroom and outdoors. It may be best, in some lo- 

 calities, to maintain a demonstration garden at the school, where 

 most of the operations may be performed in advance of the work 

 at the homes. 



Inspection trips. — Inspection trips to the market gardens and 

 the gardens of the pupils should be taken occasionally. A study of 

 well-conducted commercial operations, early in the year, will be 

 found especially helpful. 



Exhibits. — Exhibits of the products grown should be made when 

 the crops are in best condition to be shown. Vegetable displays, 

 when skillfully managed, always stimulate community interest in 

 the work of the school, and they are also of great educational value 

 to the pupils. 



Judging vegetables. — A thorough knowledge of vegetables is 

 best obtained by judging them. This work should be done as a 

 regular laboratory exercise and also in connection with exliibits. 

 Score cards or instructions for scoring may be obtained from the 



