221 
the trees with the least amount of damage, and some of the most 
prominent characteristics of trees. His acquaintance with the 
bircn may begin still younger, mine did, and I can tell that tree 
anywhere today, because of the close acquaintance I had with it 
in my youth. Nut and acorn trees, the boy knows in a general 
way because of the fruit which they bear, but by building upon 
his knowledge of and interest in the trees because of their fruits 
he may be taught their other characteristics, their commercial 
value and habits of growth. The sugar maple is distinguished 
because of the quality of its sap, and here again is a basis upon 
which I built a knowledge of all the maples. 
Much of the damage done to nut and other trees by the boy 
is done through ignorance and carelessness. If he were taught 
more about trees, their seeding and growing habits, the injury 
caused by making wounds in the bark ; if he could set out and 
raise some trees that he would feel were his own, the trees would 
become such close friends of his that he would come to be their 
natural protector. 
Again, a few visits with proper instruction to where a house 
is being built, a fence being put up, a wagon in the course of 
construction, also a trip to the neighboring sawmill would give 
him very valuable lessons in the uses of wood. 
The problem at once arises as to who will teach the boys these 
various things since the average country school teacher is not 
prepared for this work. There are several ways out the difficulty. 
The teacher may become informed by study with the aid of the 
State and National Forestry Bureau. Excellent bulletins, deal- 
ing with the teaching of forestry in country schools may be ob- 
tained from the Department of Forestry at Washington, D. C. 
The teacher may receive some practical help from carpenters, 
carriage manufacturers and mill foremen. Undoubtedly the de- 
mand for such subjects will force the normal school to offer in- 
struction along this line in the near future. The normal school 
is the place where teachers should be prepared for this work. 
Meanwhile, we have our summer schools, such as the one at 
The Pennsylvania State College, where teachers may receive ex- 
cellent training in the teaching of forestry. 
This article is not intended as a finished discussion of the teach- 
ing of forestry in our country schools, but only as suggestive of 
a way in which the country boy may get a little more out of his 
school experience by becoming better acquainted with his sur- 
roundings. Thus will be found life in the country more valuable 
and more attractive. 
WEED DESTRUCTION IN THE PHILIPPINES. 
From an article in the Philippine Agricultural ReviezVy for 
February, 1911," it appears that the Plant Lantana Camara, which 
is one of those known as ''wild sage" in the West Indies, has 
