VOLLX
INDIANAPOLIS, NOV. 18, 1905.
NO 46
AG1UCULTUUE IN TIIE COUXTUY
SCHOOLS.
Editors Indiana Farmer
"it seems anomalous that only recently
have steps been taken to establish something In the way of theoretical and practical instruction in subjects relating to
agriculture,  in our public schools in  the
est young country people to the city.
What can be done to prevent it? Th«-io
seems only one reasonable answer, and
that is education, of the proper kind. No
doubt, the Slate Board of Education- had
this condition partly in miud when formulating their plan,
l'.eyond a doubt intelligent nnd thorough
mals, farm crops, common' trees, Ilowers
and weeds common-birds insecis and animals through their languageand conversation lesson as well as in comp isiiion woik
Tlie pupils should be encouraged to observe for themselves familiar objects at
hami, for by so doing they will gain useful
knowledge of tirst hand.
along agricultural lines, it mny be made
a continuation of that ot the lower grades
The scooe of the work of course would
be dependent upon the size and equipment
of Ihe school and the length of the
course.
One year of botany nnd zoology,    and
another in* enlargement of the work done
Beantiful Snoqualmie.      208 feet high, a nd over 100 feet higher than Niagara,
of the Engineering Feats of tlie Century.
On the right is the Electric Tower Generating  Chamber  under  the  Falls.       One
The above illustration- shows one of the crating chamber cut of solid  rock nnder are   one   of   a   great   many   water   falls, electricity  generated  at    Snoqualmie     is
natural wonders of Washington, beantiful the falls.      The    falls are    some thirty which in the years to come, with the rapid now transmitted  to  the cities of Seattle
Snoqualmie Falls, 268 feet high and over miles from Pnget Sound and are midway development of the Fugct Sound country, and     Tacoma,   and     surveys   nre    being
100 feet higher than Niagara.      The cut between* Everett and Seattle in the foot will be    harnessed and    furnish    motive made to bring light and power current in-
on the right shows tiie electric power gen- hills of the Cascades mountains.      They power for all manner of industry.      The to Everett.
country. The practical benefits of such
instruction have not been appreciated
fully; nor has its place in the school
course of study been allowed. W'hat
manual training is to the city child, agricultural training should be to tlie child of
the rural district. It is logical and sensible that the country child should have
some systematic knowledge and training
along the line of work in which his father is engaged on the farm.
The Indiana State School Board cannot
be too highly commended for its recent
plan looking forward to the inauguration
of a course of study, in the country
schools of the state, which shall have direct bearing upon agriculture. It has
put itself on record for up-to-date ideas.
It is high time that something be done
towards this end, for of late the complaint has gone out from the farm that
the boys and girls, as soon as they attain
their wage earning years, become dissatisfied with the so-called hum-drum of
farm life and seek contentment and better fortune in the artificial and strained
conditions of the city. There is an
alarming exodus of our best and "bright-
instruction in agricultural subjects in the
public schools of the rural section would
counteract the desire for city life and
create in the child's mind a new love for
and interest in the farmer's life.
The country child should be taught that
the common things in nature around him
are decidedly interesting when viewed in
the light of practical and scientific study.
Through a course of instruction ranging
from tho very rudiments of agricultural
science, in- the graded schools, up to more
advanced work in the township high
school, the child can be led gradually to
se<* the benefit and profits to bo derived
from the  farm. In  studying or teach
ing any science the practical sisle should
never be lost sight of, beoause a science
in theory is of little account, and agricultural science above all must be practical to make it worth while to the student.     •
As to the nature of the agricultural
subjects to bo taught in our country
schools the state board wisely suggests
in substance the following: Tupils of
the first three years should become familiar with  the  names  of  domestic  ani-
In the fourth and fifth years a continuation of the work of the preceding three
grades is commended, with more advanced ideas added, along the line of soil
study, seed germination and something of
ihe weather in relation to the farmer's
occupation. Application  of   the  know
ledge of the former pr ides of the know-
reference to useful and harmful birds, insects,    plants and weeds.
In  the    sixth  year    the  rudiments    of
agriculture   may  be  taught  by   use  of   a
very elmentary text book.        This can be
supplemented,   whenever   practicable,   b.v
outdoor   instruction   nnd   observation.    In
the   seventh   and   eighth   years   the   work
may be expanded, so as to show the relations of the birds, insects and wild quadrupeds    to    the farmers.    The    study of i
soils can here be taken  up  more    fully, ;
and practical and experimental work will ;
show   the  interesting  connection   between !
the  soil  ansl  the  plant.       By  the end  of'
the   eighth   year   the   pupil   should   have j
gained     much   useful     knowledge     along'
the   line  of  en ps,   dairying,   horticulture]
and care of farm animals. ;
As  for the  township  high  school  work ;
in the two grades preceding the high
school would go far towards the practical education of the future successful
farmer.
Of course, such a scheme as has been
suggested will require extra time on tho
part of teacher and pupil. Suitable arrangements will be necessary in the daily
program ts» take up work and doubtless
sacrifices in time ami service will have to
le made on the part of the teacher and
pupil. It will mean, finally, teachers of
broader education for our country nnd
correspondingly better salaries. The
service that agricultural instruction can
render our fanning communities can
never be over-estimated.
Indianapolis. ,        II.  S.  C.
While dressing pigeons for the table
the cook of the Murray Hotel, Omaha,
found on them a metal band inscribed "U.
S. carrier pigeon." and on one had been
scratched "IT. S. S. Bennington." The
birds were from the Bennington. They
had come witli others from Sioux City,
and evidently had been in cold storage for
sometime.