EXERCISES FOR SOUTHERN RURAL SCHOCLS, 5 
Pracical exercises.—Have pupils select from choice garden plants 
seeds that are maturing this month. Store seed in smali paper bags 
in a place not subject to extremes of temperature and to the ravages 
of insects and mice. 
Collect roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and seed of blooming and seed- 
maturing garden plants, wild flowers, and weeds. Mount the leaves 
and flowers in the class notebook. The roots, stems, and seed should 
be mounted on separate cards and labeled so as te indicate the name 
of the plant, the month collected, and the class making the collection. 
(See Farmers’ Bul. 586.) 
Correlatvons.—Language lessons: The trips in search of wild 
flowers and weeds afiord material for written work. The location 
of a plant, its general appearance, the kind of leaves, flowers, and seed 
it bears, the manner of distributing its seed should form an outline 
for a written story. 
Drawing: Sketch the roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruit or 
seeds of plants studied this month. The best drawing should be 
mounted in the class notebook. 
ANIMALS. 
Review and continued work.—Continue population studies. 
Study birds more in detail. Are there new birds to be seen this 
month? Are they seen in flocks or alone? What do they eat? Do 
they go farther south or remain for the winter? Begin to look for 
the bobolink, or rice bird, and the field lark. What member of the 
class will be the first to report the appearance of a new bird? 
Some or all of the following birds will seek a warmer climate 
during the winter: The cuckoo or rain crow, catbird, martin, kingbird, 
night and sparrow hawks. They should be given attention before 
they go away. Compare the males and females. Which are bright? 
Which dull? Can you give reasons? Uses of feathers on different 
parts of the body—shedding water, warmth, flying, balancing in air 
and on perches, propping on trees. 
Compare the feathers on the neck, breast, back, wing, and tail of a 
chicken with those of some other farm fowl—turkey, goose, or 
guinea. Learn the parts of a feather—quill, barb, and barbel. 
New work assigned.—Begin the study of domestic and wild mam- 
mals (animals that suckle their young) that are of economic im- 
portance this month. What domestic mammals are rendering 
service? Idle? Gathering their own food? Being fed? 
What wild mammals are destroying or damaging garden or field 
crops? Does the damage done justify their extermination? Are 
they useful for game ? 
Answer the following questions with regard to the animals you 
select for study: Where do they live now? What is the winter home 
