Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-05-10

~uS6Uy pOSoeoS00
longing to turn their backs on coun-
try NE. are displaying the keenest in
'eiest IN agriculture, and give promise
OF living useful lives away from the
storm centers of humanity.
Scnool officials in many city and
country districts have taken to the
suggestions Of the department read
lily. Many members OF congress. i'm
pressed with the possibilities Of Sec
rotary Wilson's scheme, are cooper
atlng with him in every possible way.
some representatives, for instance, in
stead OF sending the flower seeds re-
celved from the government this
spring, to the politicians, distributed
them among the public school prin-
clpals. Congressman have also been
helpful by supplying principals and
teachers with such information and
suggestions as the department has to
offer.
The department officials believe that
in the near future the study of agri-
culture will be made part of the COM
mon school course in every school,
the land over. That is what it is
working for. In some states school
authorities have already directed that
the study be added to the regular
course.
The letter fully Celebrates the plan
and purpose of the department and
speaks of the growing interest mani
tested in the city school garden.
Investigations show that until the
school garden idea was put in circula-
ton school boards in most of the
large cities were opposed to growing
vegetation of any kind on school lots.
Play grounds, as a rule, were gravel
ed lots, absolutely barren of grass and
flowers or shrubbery of any kind.
The department would also have
teachers in the city schools arrange
for laboratory exercises for the study
of soil. In the higher grades it would
have these exercises relate to such
themes as these: "The Relation of
Soil to Plants" Soil as a Storehouse
for water" "Plant Foods in Solution -
"Air Essential to Growth" "Soil and
Water Supply" Conditions Essential
to termination" Studies of Roots,
Studies of Sems," Studies of
Leaves" "Studies of Cuttings" etc.
If the department could have its
way every school ground in the land
would be decorated by the children
The work of identifying the grounds
it is suggested, should always carry
with it an element of instruction
The ground should serve as an OBJ.
ject lesson for the residents of the
community in which the school is 10
Gated. The grounds should be laid
out on sound principles Of landscape
gardening, and be so we'll executed as
to induce residents of the vicinity tt
copy the general idea of the plan, and
possibly the details of the shrubbery
groups.
1t is suggested that the idea o.
beauty can be emphasized in the prop
er grouping of trees and shrubs il
relation to walks, drives and vistas
and utility can be subserved by Sc
placing the heavy paintings as t.
serve as shield from the wind ant
sun. Shrubbery groups can be ar
ranged SO as to separate one portion
of the ground from another and We
not interfere with large spaces, which
can be used as Fairgrounds.
While there is tendency to in
clude too much in the common schoo
studies, in some instances to tn,
great detriment of the schools, if al
interest in agriculture could be awak
ened or cultivated in the young i
might lead to the corr ection of al
evil that is now receiving serious con
sideration, and that is the rush o
| boys ana young men 10 the large CIT
les in search of employment. Ever.
great city, even in prosperous times
is crowded with idle men, eking GU
a miserable existence, when health
full employment, pure air and bette
compensation for their labor can b.
found in the country. If the secre
tary of agriculture can devise ;
scheme to arrest this tendency ant
lead our boys to understand that thu
pursuit of agriculture is a noble ant
profitable one, he will do the risin,
generation great service. Possibly
too, some attention should be giver
to instruction along those lines in al
the public schools.