56 
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA—EXPERIMENT STATION 
Study samples of the various grass seeds sold to find percentage of 
adulteration with weed seeds. Get data from farmers, the farm 
advisor or the county horticulturist. Any law against selling 
adulterated grass seeds? Study of grain seeds as wheat, oats, barley, 
etc. Selection of seeds for planting—what determining factors? 
Improvement of crops through seed selection. Importance of the 
germination test before putting in the crop. Parts of a seed. See 
Farmers’ Bulletins, U. S. Department of Agriculture. 
Moulds, yeasts, and bacteria. —Why important? Help to destroy. 
Help to prepare some foods. Help to spread disease in plants and 
animals. Help in keeping up the fertility of the soil. See Comstock’s 
Handbook of Nature Study for Teachers. 
Plants and seeds as sources of foods. —Food in the apple, the bean, 
the potato, wheat, etc. Various food materials found as starch, oil, 
sugar, proteids, etc. Raw materials used by the plant to make foods. 
Sources of? Meaning of an element? Of a chemical compound? 
Illustrations. The ten elements that are absolutely necessary to grow 
a plant. See Patterson and Dexheimer’s Lesson Plans for Teachers 
in Nature Study Agriculture, pp. 152-156. 
Orchard problems. —Study of special problems of the orchard, 
whether pruning, spraying, cultivation, harvesting, fruit, etc. Keep 
in touch with discussions in current farm and horticultural papers 
and with bulletins issued by the State Horticultural Society and the 
State College of Agriculture. 
Human and. social importance of plant life. —Development of an 
appreciation of a more attractive environment. Materials for 
beautifying school and home grounds. The simple elements of a good 
landscape design. Actual participation by children in planting and 
caring for things planted. 
