The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-10-02
[ESSONSONCORN..
A LIT TIE PRIMER.
Pamphlet Issued by Government
That Is Useful to Virginia
Corn Growers.
ESPECIAL to The Times-nispatc h.

Especial TO Inc tClI'J
Washington, October 1.-The De-
partment OF Agriculture has just issued
an important little primer entitled
school Lessons on Corn that ought
to be in the hands and carefully
studied by every farmer IN the United
states. The little pamphlet is brim-
full of interesting matter. and there
Is not dull page in it.
Three years ago the department.
issued bulletin on EXERCISES IN Ele-
mentary Agriculture" and owing to
the continuous and growing demand
for copies, coming largely from rural
school teachers. it seemed wise to pro-
eide for its more general distribution
by reissuing it. with additional matter.
in the present series.
The present bulletin is by Dick j.
Crosby and +. W. Howe. specialists
IN agricultural education. in which
they say:
FOR considerable number of years
more attention has been given by far
mers to the production and improve
ment of corn than to any other grain
or general farm crop 1t has not SO
generally had the attention of teach
ers and pupils in the schools. With the
rapid spread of experimental corn
growing, through the work of boys
and girls agricultural clubs, the need
of such study in the schools has come
to be better appreciated. The design
of this bulletin is to furnish sugges.
tions for developing the real educa-
tional value of this study and cstab-
fishing some of its connections with
arithmetic, botany and other school
subjects.
Getting Down to Science.
''At the outset a general acquaint-
ance with the corn plant Is desirable.
Many a boy and girl and teacher. too.
have dwelt in the presence Of corn
fields for considerable part of their
lives without approaching the many
features OF interest which the structure
and functions of this plant have tc
offer to the inquisitive student.
In order to discover some of these
the following topics and questions are
suggested: /. The kind Of corn: what
Kind have you seen? 2. Location OF
color In the kernels. 3. Number OF
rows. etc. 4. Depth to plant. S. The cul-
ture Of corn. 6. A study in growing
| corn. Z. Corn roots. s. Leaves and
IL. Gathering and storing.
These twelve topics cover the selec.
ton. planting, cultivation and housing
I OF the corn: In fact, every step needed
in the making Of the crop.
Always Get Good Seed.
discussing the interesting subject Of
| how to test seed corn In schools, the
bulletin says: There are at least three
reasons why teachers, especially ir
| the rural districts. should be interested
In seed corn testing as a school exer.
{ clse First. 1t furnishes an easy anc
| interesting study in seed termination
and plant growth; second, the extended
| use of a good method has vast eco
nomic value in improving the produc
4 tiveness of American agriculture, anG
third. the teaching OF it In the rura
school exerts a strong influence to-
ward increasing the confidence O.
| parents in the permanent worth O.
/ good school work. The teacher who's,
work Is supported by such a sentiment
in the community has her powers o
usefulness increased MANIFOLD II
comparison with one who is indif
ferent to the home interests of he
pupils and their parents. The teache
/ who once begins ta-tTx intelligent.
some simple exercises in agriculture
doubt as to the responsive lnteres
l which she can awaken In any kind o
i productive school work. Children Low
( to do things, especially things that ar
obviously useful; they need only ju
4 dicious direction,to turn this instinc
into various forms of continuous self
education--whic Is the only kind tina
sticks
Don't Mind Trouble.
1T has come to be true that almos
every farmer and rural school bo
now understands the Importance o
testing seed corn before planting-an
testing 1t in the ear rather than afte
q Smelling, But many farmers fail to d
as we'll as they know in. this matte
because they recommend many Of TIL
| mathHar 4lSs* N~,ra seen recommenda