The Dickinson press., 1912-03-30

S D~F -
shown how the plants are crossed, how
the pollen from one plant is placed
upon the pistil Of snother and if flowers
are handy. actual crossing may be done.
Heads of wheat may be selected from q
field for breeding the mex season. each
head of wheat planted in single rows.
Ears of corn may be selected for the
same purpose. individual ears being
planted from. the different head rows.
Instructions should be given of Sc
Jectine and saving seed corn in the
fall. termination tests should be made
of damp ears that have been frozen
and of ears properly dried. Z
SOILS AND SOIL PHYSICS.
These topics afford abundant work
for study. much Of. which can be done
in the winter time. if material has
been saved. A study Of the soil.shouid be
made of the neiehborhood and samples
should be secured. Soil from the top 3
inches and second 8 inches may be
taken. sifted to remove sticks and rub
bish, placed in bottles and labeled as
to their locality, and quality as far as
one is able. Soils may be taken from
a low place upon a farm and from a
hill top. The clay. sand and loan soils
should be made a part of the collection.
In studying the soils the pupil should
notice the difference in color between
the top and the subsoils and the effect
of water upon the color of different
soils. If the soils come from the local
farms, the boys and girls of those farms
can tell which of such soils raises the
best crops. The question at once arises
why does n soil produce a good crop
and another soil a poor crop. This
question can be answered in part by
future experiments. The suitability of
different soils for different crops may
be discussed. Il will be possible in
some cases to associate certain wild
types Of vegetation with certain kinds
of SOIL. Buckbrush will nearly alwsys
be found on soil, dark colored when
wetted
Something can be done towards show
ing the different kinds Of soil PARTICLES
that 90 to make up a soil. Some. sandy
soil placed in a glass and stirred with
water will show &" separation Of the
sand. falling first, from the silly and
clayey particles that subside later. By
pouring off the turbid liquid at different
intervals, a coarse grading of sand, silt
and clay may be had. If the teacher
has no interest in this work at the
start, an interest will soon be devel-
oped. if she has capacity to teach.
Dry sifted soils may be taken of differ
ent kinds, say of a light sandy soil. a
loan soil and q heavy clay soil, placed
in lamp chimneys with cheese cloth
tied around the bottom and placed in a
dish of water. The movement of capil.
larry water will o o be apparent and
measurements can be taken of the
rapidly and height of such movement
in the different soils. This experiment,
can be extended. little so that in one
of the tubes some chopped straw form.
a layer near the top. in another tube,
chopped straw mixed with dirt will
form q similar layer, while the thiri
tube will contain soil alone. The stu
dents will soon see that the layer o.
chopped straw effectually prevents thu
upward movement Of capillary water.
It will not take them long to see tn.
practical application of this expert
ment. in the turning under Of manur,
in q coarse condition in contrast to thu
condition where it is ground up will
soil by the disc harrow.
r The dark colored soils may be soaked
with ammonia obtaining q solution O
humus. Work of this kind will neces
state some study on the part of tn,
teacher out of class, but the teache
will soon be put in the way of learning
aericulture-and the teacher will sool
have something to teach.
Clay soil and loan soil may be taken
wetted and worked on a board 50 tina
they will be thoroughly ..puddled.
The puddled soils, worked up into
ball. may be frozen and thawed on
several times noting in each instanc,
the effect upon the soils. reservin,
other puddled balls az checks. Th'
relation of this to the good effect o
frost upon soil filth should be noted
FARM CROPS.
These may hest be studied in the fal
and late, spring. unless there are eoot
facilities for storing the dried crop
for winter study. twill be of erea
value to have some plats at the schoo
house upon which a few crops coult
be grown. provided they can be givel
attention during the summer. Perhap,
some Of the boys will volunteer to tax,
care Of q few small plats for schoo
work.
Ib%D 49, . "a 49, lJA 40 49,