AGRICULTURAL NATURE STUDY OUTLINES 
47 
animals may be found in Davenport’s Domesticated Animals and 
Plants. See also bulletins from the U. S. Department of Agriculture 
and a good text in elementary agriculture. 
Wheat .—Extent of wheat raising in the district? In the state? 
Past importance of the wheat crop in California. Do we now raise 
enough in the state to supply state needs? Why? What has caused 
the decline of the wheat industry ? What kinds of wheat raised in the 
district? Samples of different kinds in the schoolroom. Look for 
weed seed. What constitutes a well-prepared seed bed? When is 
wheat sown? Ways of sowing it. Study of wheat plant. Char¬ 
acteristics of stem as contrasted with stem of corn plant. Identify 
pedicle and blade of the wheat leaf. How joined to the stem? Note 
position of leaves along the stem. Are leaves parallel-veined or 
netted-veined ? Study of root system. What is meant by a ‘ ‘ fibrous ’ ’ 
root system? What other kind? AVhat other common plants have 
characteristics common to wheat so far as stem, leaves, and root 
are concerned? Study the head. Why called a spike? Note and 
describe rachis, spikelet, glume. If wheat is bearded, which glume 
bears the beard ? Number of grains in a spikelet. Study of the flower 
of the wheat plant. Compare with flower of the corn plant. Ways 
of improving the wheat plant. History and uses of wheat. 
Weeds .—What weeds are troublesome in the corn field? In the 
wheat field? Which are annuals? Biennials? Perennials? Which 
are most successful? Best method of combating each. Study these 
weeds in the fall when the flower and seed are available. Study one 
weed in detail as to height, color, and character of stem; method of 
branching; kind and manner of leaves; appearance of leaves on 
different parts of plant. Describe the flower. Where are the seeds? 
Appearance? Estimate number of seeds on a single weed. Name 
several things that make weeds successful plants. Study other weeds, 
noting like and unlike features to one already studied. In what ways 
are weeds injurious to growing crops? How are weeds injurious to 
animal life? Waj^s of scattering weeds. Collections of weed seeds in 
small vials with proper labels. See references at close of outlines on 
Weeds in the Sixth grade. 
Alfalfa .—Discussion of legumes in general. Name other legumes 
besides alfalfa. Note habit of growth of alfalfa. Characteristics of 
stem, leaf, and flower. Study of the root system. Kind, of root and 
its advantages. Locate tubercles or nodules. What are they? AVhat 
are the bacteria and what do they do ? Where do the bacteria get the 
nitrogen? How many pounds of nitrogen in the atmosphere over 
