22 
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-EXPERIMENT STATION 
2. Plant Life throughout the Year 
Garden studies .—This is a necessary topic for every grade. Review 
studies of previous grades and get a new point of view of some more 
or less familiar phases of garden interest. How does the garden com¬ 
pare with previous years? What things of special interest during 
this year? Plans for home and school gardens. Study of seed cata¬ 
logues. Mistakes made last year and measures to avoid them this 
year. Grow several varieties of radish and lettuce to determine the 
most desirable. Make out a list of vegetables to be planted for the 
school exhibit. 
Sweet Corn .—Examine seed. Discuss preparation of soil and best 
time to plant. Watch growth and report when tassel appears; when 
the silk appears; height of stem, thickness, size of leaves, etc. Number 
of ears on stalk. Compare with pop corn or field corn, if any is 
grown in the district. Uses of sweet corn. Why used as human food? 
Discuss canning of sweet corn. Tell all the things that must be done 
from the time the kernels are planted to the time when the cans are 
shipped away. Damage done by the corn ear worm. 
Sunflower .—Study entire plant as it is growing. Have pupils tell 
all they see. Go into details as to height, color, character of stem, 
leaf, flower. Look carefully at sunflower head at different stages of 
growth. Is the flower one or many? A small flower is called what? 
Each produces what? How many seeds in a head? Color and various 
uses of seeds? Where on the head do the seeds ripen first? Watch 
the bees on the sunflower head. What do they want and what are 
they doing? 
Bulbs .—Have a bulb garden on the school ground, if possible. 
Consult seed catalogue as to best time and methods of setting bulbs 
out. Tulips, narcissus, daffodils, and crocuses are good. Who in the 
community has been especially successful in bulb gardening at home? 
Have children find out how success was obtained. Factors in success 
as proper location of bulb bed; character of soil; preparation of soil; 
use of well rotted manure; depth of planting, etc. The indoor bulb 
garden. Bulbs planted in boxes, pots or tin cans for blooming. 
Nasturtium .—Study of flower, stem, leaves, and seed. Teach 
calyx—number of parts, peculiarities, etc.; corolla—number of 
petals, markings, nectar guides, and spur; shape of lower petals, 
etc. Position of stamens when flower first opens. Length of fila¬ 
ments. Number of stamens. Anther or pollen boxes. How manv 
open at a time? The pistil and stigma. Where is the seed box? 
