The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1895-11-06

One of the favorite topics of conversation
among women in the country who are in
tert sted in the raising of vegetables and
flowers is how to wage successful war against
insects inimical to plant life. When a girl
graduates from the Minnesota Sch. oil of
Agriculture she will be fully conversant
with the best method of destroying these
pests, for entomology is one Of the branches
in which she receives thorough instruction.
Special attention is given to the species of
insects most beneficial or injurious, to the
time and manner in which both benefit and
injury are caused, to the means of protec
ton from insect foes, and to the practical
uses of beneficial insects.
Zoology is also lightly touched upon in
this connection, and the more common wild
animals found near the home and their
relation to human Interests are likewise con-
sidered, as well as the action of some small
organisms, such as bacteria and moulds.
IT the instruction given these young
women in horticulture bears good fruit. the
grounds about their future homes should be
m 1vels of beauty. Lectures are given on
small-fruit growing, the vegetable garden,
lawns and house plants. These lecturesare
supplem ented by demonstrations and OBJ
servations in the gardens and green houses
the experiment station. They also learn
the elementary principles of landscape gar
dening: to select the best varieties of fruits
and vegetables; to plant, cultivate, protect.
havest. store and sell them to manage both
home garden and market arden to ap-
ply, as far as practicable, if need be, the
principles of hot.bed and greenhouse man
agement land to raise trees for shade, shelter
and timber.
Poultry raising is carefully taught. Not
the raising OF poultry in the Old natural
way, but by means of incubators and brood
ers. The fair students learn how 10 feed
fowls for flesh or eggs and how to PACK eggs
for winter use. Lectures are given on the
physiology of digestion, nutrition and tissue
changes. and familiar talks are given on
home hygiene.
The girls are instructed in composition
and the use of proper and correct forms of
expression in conversation. They are led
to think, to analyze and define their
thoughts, to choose words that will accu-
rately express them, and to arrange these
words in harmony. The rules of gramma ar
the forms of correspondence and the eJe,
mentary principles of rhetoric are also
taught.
HOW TO KEEP BOOKS.
1t is proposed next year to add to the
girls curriculum many other studies, such
as are now pursued by the boys. Among
these are penmanship and accounts. The
students will be taught to write plainly and
rapidly and 10 keep the accounts of the farm
and household. Music and physical culture
will also have place in the list of studies
1t is the aim of the university to make Its
graduates intelligent citizens as well as
practical farmers, and during the last term
of the course the students receive instruction
in civics. and graduate with good under
standing of the various forms O govern.
ment. the organic ttion and m anagem ent OF
local institutions, the functions of the leg
islative, judicial and executive departments
the interdependence of the State and it's
citizens, and every thing that will fit then,
to become model public officers If they get
votes enough.