AGRICULTURAL NATURE STUDY OUTLINES 
53 
home. Relation of school to community and personal hygiene. Prin¬ 
cipal state regulations with reference to pure food, pure milk, etc. 
Farm machinery .—General discussion of value of machinery in 
general. Kinds of power used in operating farm machinery; the 
gasoline engine and its uses. Reasons for the use of improved 
machinery on the farm. List of different tools used on the farm in 
the preparation of the soil for the crop. Make a special study of the 
development of the plow and its place in the progress of the human 
race. How does the plow compare in importance with the sword? 
List of tools used in the seeding of crops; tools used in cultivation. 
Discuss in detail the evolution of harvesting machines from the reap 
hook to the combined harvester. Also the machines used in haying 
of whatever kind. Describe special machinery for special crops as 
rice, beans, etc. Send to large implement houses for catalogues of 
farm machinery. Study these catalogues. Economic importance of 
proper care of farm machinery. Average length of life of a plow, 
a mower, a reaper. Money invested in farm implements on each farm. 
The total for the district. Estimated loss each year because of poor 
care of machinery. What is the proper care of a farm tool? Tools 
used in marketing products of farm, as wagon, automobile, etc. Care 
of fruit boxes and milk cans. The repair shop on the farm and list 
of repair tools. Brief discussion by teacher of machines in accordance 
with the six fundamental simple machines, viz., the lever, the pulley, 
the wheel and axle, the inclined plane, the wedge, the screw. Pupils 
encouraged to find illustrations of uses of these simple machines in the 
economy of the home and the farm. 
Seasonal activities .—Summary of steps in various processes in 
farm operations, best methods as accepted by majority. Disputed 
points in various processes as pruning fruit trees; cultivation of 
orchards; irrigation; care of swine and poultry; filling the silo; use 
