26 BULLETIN 258, II. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
quire members of the class to make written reports on the spraying 
at their homes covering such phases as the formulas of spraying mate- 
rials used, the spraying machinery, the fruits sprayed, and the diseases 
or insects combated. (3) Fruit-club or home-project members should 
spray, cultivate, and fertilize their trees. 
Correlations. — Language and drawing : Describe and make sketch 
of a barrel spray. History : Have pupils write accounts of the intro- 
duction and spread of damage done by fruit diseases found in the 
community. Arithmetic : Develop problems on the cost of sprays. 
See United States Department of Agriculture Bui. 132. 
LESSON SEVEN. 
SUBJECT : HOME GAEDEN. TOPIC \ PLANTING IN HOTBEDS AND IN THE OPEN. 
Hotbeds. — These should be given constant attention to prevent 
overheating and to secure ventilation. Tomato, eggplant, and pepper 
seeds should be sown in the hotbed about the middle of the month. 
Melon plants should be started in boxes in the southern part of the 
State. Plants from seeds sown in January should be ready to trans- 
fer to the cold frame, and after being hardened off set in the open. 
Planting in the open. — Winter rains have leached much of the 
available fertility from garden soils, hence it is necessary to apply 
well-rotted manure or high-grade fertilizers, preferably both. Apply 
an 8:2:8 high-grade fertilizer at the rate of 500 to 1,000 pounds per 
acre. 
Irish potatoes, cabbage, onions, radishes, lettuce, spinach, turnips, 
carrots, and English peas should be planted this month. Soak seed 
potatoes for two hours in a formalin solution (46 per cent formalde- 
hyde) consisting of 1 ounce of formalin and 2 gallons of water. 
Class assignment. — Duggars, pp. 185-191. Supplement the lesson 
with notes from Alabama Experiment Station Circ. 14, Parts I and 
II ; Farmer's Buls. 220, 255, 354, 433, 434, and 544. 
Practical exercises. — (1) Prepare the soil and begin planting vege- 
tables on the school or home gardens. The pupils should plant such 
vegetables as potatoes, onions, lettuce, turnips, radishes, and peas. 
(2) Club members should plant tomato seed either in hotbeds or 
boxes. Plow and harrow the soil that is to be used for the tomato 
plat. Well-rotted manure should be applied before the soil is har- 
rowed. 
Correlations. — Language: Have the members of the class make 
written reports of the work done this month in their gardens. Those 
who do not have plats of their own should be required to report on 
the work done in the home gardens. Arithmetic : From the reports 
made by the pupils of the class develop problems to determine the 
cost of the gardens this month, taking into account labor, fertilizer, 
and seed. 
