The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-12-16
Teaching Agriculture
In The High School

A course in agriculture should aim. rot
only % give the pupils n knowledge O.
the subject matter bet o. create in their
minds a respect Tor agricultural occupa-
tions and "a love FOR thlnlo5 connected with
them And for this reason the teaching or
agriculture should not 10 given 90 any
teacher whose program might perhaps.
he isAt enough 20 take this work. but
20 one with high IDEALS and genuine
belief IN the value Of horticultural train
ing. Such teacher wn1 make the WORK
$50 attractive that ia "a short time there
vil De- plenty o. students 20 take Up
those studies
There are. therefore. two main reasons
for teaching agriculture IN The schools:
nrst. 20 arouse lows and respect FOR
agricultural life and woca<. placing this on
"a level with other trades and occupa-
lions. and. second. 70 give the pupils
Ga thorough scientific knDWledge OF every
thinr connected with rural life
The course should consist % study
~ sotl plants. and animals. or plants
the student should De- arm the structure.
the parts. and the functions or carl- th.
relation OF plants 10 their environment.
thar is. soil and climate and tie methods
~ reproduction natural ana artificial:
many experiments shOlld be given 20
/ show how plants grow and obtain their
food from eoH and ak
In connection with or following tie
plant study. the pupils should learn about
Tire soil. its origin. It's composition its
/ properties. ana its relation 10 plant
growth. Later in tl,, course they should
have lessons in the management OF tire
sol necessary To- insane most abundant
plant growth and 10 retain the fertility
Cd frr 81
has been impoverished boy lack Cf care or
over-urOducUon.
These things can be taught only by
means % experiments. The pupils might
elnaps get some Of the facts from
| books. but these facts have no real mean
Ing or live interest until they have been
applied in actual expendments. ia case thA
school has no means of carrying on these
experiments. the stude nts could be taken
on excursions TO farms whore such work
can re seen. Many farms can ALWAYS
Doe found where good work is being done
ana any number where the lack OF care
shows its effect
After the elementary work with plants
and soils the pupils may take IN q
study Of the farm. orchard. and garden
crops. They should become familiar with
the kind Of soil IN which each crop thrives
best, and with the preparation OF such
soil. They should have work in the Sc
lection. testing. and planting Of seeds.
and. finally IN the harvesting OF the
crop When studying the orchard and
other fruits they would need to have prac-
uce i'm grating and budding and the
artificial propagation OF plants; such as
| by cuttings. layerage. etc.
In this part OF the work they
( can gain a great deal Of valuable
/ experience by caring for or help
/ ing 10 care for the school grounds
IHarr rar.rf MA
trees and shrubs bulbs and flowers. Of
/ all kinds. It viii be good test OF
/ their ability to apply their book knowl-
! edge with liberal mixture of common
! sense II they are able TO make things
( grow about the ordinary school-house
/ where usually the sail Is none too good.
This work will be most valuable Of all
Wnen II encourages the pupils 10 apply
/ tneir knowledge TO. the grounds about
/ their homes. SO many are sadly in need
or some kind OF Gaze and. be 1t ever so
/ htte' that little win help e great deal
/ an teaching should aim to connect school
ne with the outside life Of the pupil,
anu in so far as II does this. it an
p,oaches high degree OF success.
ne study OF aniJnals should be taken
w IN somewhat the same vav as that
! or the Plants. The oupls sboiIid beco-ss
lai"iAar with breeds and types. and win
ule care management, and breedine, Of
,le common farm animals. They sbould
ie"rh now and whsct 20 feed these ami
mas what the composition OF their food
is ana what the different oonstituerts
III the FOOD produce in the animals BODY,
special course I'm dairyinc roi,,I,t h.
given in which the pupils s6ouId iea,o
about the care. use. and composition ~
/ MIX. In case the school is not eorinr,.5
+ so as 10 allow tho practical work In tbs
DAIRY TO be carriei on. this cosId Ia
given when the students take nn the
s,uoy OF the cow They should then
/ actual work being done
A course such as outlined abova NAV
be made very Elementary. and SIN a.
I clude an the topics mentioned. or n the
| equipment OF the school and the grade
OF the students permit It may b made