Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-02-06
AGRICULTURAL COURSES
GIVEN AT STATE NORMAL
Details of Gardening and
Courses in General Agricult-
ure Are Taught

-
ATHENS, Ga, Feb. 8.-The work in
agriculture at the State Normal school
has been carefully adapted to meet the
peculiar needs Of the schools OF Geor-
gia A thorough course has been out
lined to meet the needs Of the common
school teacher that she may be able to
go hence prepared to teach in a pri-
mary way.
In the first year Is an elementary
course in general agriculture consist
ing of study Of the soil, the soil and
it's relation to the plant. the plant and
how it feeds upon the air and soil, fruit
trees, diseases of plants. farm crops
and domestic animals The work is
planned to give a general scope Of tn"
subject and is supplemented with ex-
perlments and demonstrations by the
instructor.
In the second year the student under
takes study Of botany and entomol-
ogy. A study of seeds. roots. buds,
stems, leaves. flowers, ETC.; their
structure and work includes the first
part of this work. Later in the year
history, habits, food and methods OF
eradication.
In the third year the course includes
a more detailed study of soils, individ-
ual work in gardening and experiments
with soils and plants.
During the senior year the students
have some school gardening in the fall
which consists more Of planning and
arranging than actual work in the
field. Testing corn and scoring the
ears gathered from the farm crops.
milk testing from the cows at the dairy
barns, grating and pruning the trees
in the orchards, are some of the things
taken up in this course. Collateral
reading is emphasized at this time in
the students work.
The greater part Of the AGRICULTURAL
laboratory work is outlined for the
Junior class and consists of about 20
exercises on soils, seeds and plants.
Different kinds of rocks and soils are
examined for their physical character
istics, and are studier to determine
their water holding capacity capillar"
ity. the relation Of color TO temperature
and the effects Of mulches, lime and
humus upon their consistency. Seed
are terminated and their growth stud
led. Experiments are made with plants
to show that they get their good from
the air as well as from the soil, how
roots absorb moisture and how water
circulates in the fibers of the plant.
School garden work is done both In
the fall and spring at the Normal.
There are Two reasons why the IAN
garden should be encouraged at our
schools. In our mild climate there are
many crops that can be seeded by the
first of September and a garden start
ed at this time will bear while the
school is in session. One of the most
difficult problems with which teachers
have to contend in conducting school
gardens is the care OF the garden dur
ing the summer vacation time. By
planting the garden in the fall this
trouble will be overcome and the pu-
pills will be able to make a systematic
study of the plants from termination
to their maturity. In the fall garden
this wear at the Normal there were diff
ferent varieties of 10 fall crops.
The school garden is 1875 by 800 feet
and is divided into $50 plots. The tools
consist of % sets OF garden imple-
ments, hand plows together with
lines. stakes, etc. In this garden the
Individual students have their own
plots. do their own planting, cultivating
and gathering, keeping careful record
Of the work done. Not only are the
different types Of plants studied but
new varieties are tested for their adapt
ability to this climate. Some plots are
used for showing the Importance of in
oculating the leguminose plants that
are not widely grown in the vicinity.
The study Of poultry is made option
al with the seniors, but 81 OF this
years class have taken up this study.
Five or six students are assigned eech
week the work of feeding and caring
for the poultry, hence they not only
get theoretical knowledge, but some
practical experience in poultry raisins.
A new building used for poultry has
lust been erected It is 12x42 feet with
four runs sx50 feet. Two breeds Of
chickens are kept, an egg type and a
general purpose type In incubator Is
used principally for the Matching in
order that the students may become Ia
mfliar with the care and management
OF incubators
At the school barns the students
have opportunities to pursue animal
husbandry, the school having several
good mules and a herd Of Jersey and
Holstein COWS. Here the principles OF
feeding and balanced rations are work.
ed out and the distinctive Characters
tics of various breeds OF animals stud
led. The farm Of about IT acres Is
largely given UP to forage crops ana
market garden vegetables. From these
few acres the tables Of the dormitory
are supplied and last year the farm
cleared above expenses over $1,000 in
produce. In the dairy room is the
cream separator which is used as the
milk Is brought from the farm Re-
frigerators and settling tanks together
with machinery for freezing the cream
are used In a room adjoining the htch>
en-.