The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-07-11
LESSONS in AGRICULTURE
GIVEN AT SUMMER SCHOOL
Agriculture in the Schools Was the Special Message
Given by L. p Harrington to the Teachers Training
School.-Teachers Show Especial Interest.

OF the OrOOKSCOn SCQOOl Ol ASIl-
culture who has been giving lessons
and lectures on agriculture before
the teachers training school here
during the week, advances the
pioneer the following article on
agriculture, and its relation to the
public schools:
THE elements of agriculture can
and~should be taught in the rural
schools. We must not wait until
the schools are ready with thoroughly
equipped teachers who can take up
this work, but we must begin with
what we can do.
Start the agriculture lessons with
simple things that can be done by
any intelligent teacher. Boys and
girls can be interested in this line of
work through testing the seeds and
grains at school; learning to make
test boxes and perform other simple
and interesting experiments of like
nature. The children will become
interested in this work and can be
readily induced to bring samples of
the best corn, grains and vegetables
raised on the farm.
I believe in grain growing con-
tests and the cash prizes offered by
the state of Minnesota to the boys
and girls under IS years of age, for
the best exhibits of certain lines of
farm products. Further particulars
may be found in a bulletin which
is distributed free to teachers and
pupils.
I would also have the teachers
teach the children the value of the
different grains as compared with
the usage of the soil. Show them
that rotation of crops is advisable
and, if you are fortunate enough to
have school grounds of sufficient
size, I would have them plant a
part of it as an experimental school
in the district.
1t would be we'll to have the
boys and girls learn about the more
common and the most dangerous
weeds that are found on the farms
in Minnesota.
Collect samples of them and
teach the children whether or not
they are ANNALS, biennials or
perennials. All teachers should
know them. The perennials are the
most dangerous. Quack grass and
Canada thistles are examples of
dangerous perennials. Wild oats
and wild mustard are examples of
the ANNALS.
I would interest the pupils in the
determination of weeds along the
roads and highways by getting them
to plant clover and timothy to take
their place along the roadside.
This, I consider, can be taught
every child in the school and in
nine cases out ten the parents will
be more than willing to work in
harmony with the children and see
that this is done so far as the roads
are concerned that border their
lands. This will go a long ways
towards the determination of the
weed pests.
Another matter which I wish to
call your attention to is the improve.
ment of the school house and the
school grounds.
Arbor Day should mean much
to the teacher and children. The
play ground is essential, but it should
not be so essential as to interfere
with the planting of trees, shubbery
and flowers. I also want to call
your attention to the school room
and say that it should at all times
be kept clean and attractive. In
so doing, the teacher should interest
the children in every move that i.
made along that line.
In fixing up the school yarc
see that the boys and girls have {
definite aim in planting trees anc
shubbery around the school house
see that the school yards are KEEP
neat and tidy,
You should interest the pupils il
getting up good exhibits of fruits
plants and vegetables for state OF
county fairs; also have them, i
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