3. How nature prunes the trees. Some day snow will come; then sleet; then a downpour of rain. At nightfall it grows colder. The wind blows. Twigs and branches fall on the white crust which covers the earth. Nature is pruning the trees. 4. The new spirit of warm days in February which is heard in the chirp of the sparrow and in the notes of the chick-a-dee. 5. Search for the Mourning Cloak butterfly which has been hibernating in sheltered places during the winter. I have seen this butterfly cross a snow-covered field. During some of the February thaws the sap begins to run and the butterfly seeks it. 6. The color that begins to come into the twigs, particularly the willows. In some parts of the state pussy willows can be found this month. 7. The first melting of the brook. Where did it begin to melt, in the middle of the stream or near the shore? Why? 8. On the look out for the spring migration. In the southern part of New York State one may, perhaps, see any of the following birds after the middle of February: Bluebird, Robin, Grackle, Song Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Kingfisher, Flicker, Purple Finch. 9. The direction of the wind during the February days. A daily record encourages observations of the weather. 10. Once at least during the month a talk on some bit of scenery that is attractive, a row of leafless trees; a roadway through the wood; the purple hills; the frozen brook. 11. A talk about some attractive home near the school. Why is it attractive? 12. Ways in which the schoolroom might be made more neat and cheerful. 13. Some suggestions for gentle and quiet manners. Why boys and girls should be thoughtful in their associations with others. The meaning of the word gentleman. 14. Suggestions for helpfulness in the home. Talks of the mother and her many duties, of the father and his busy day. What can boys and girls do to help them? 15. At least one good book discussed during the month and passages read from it. Does the teacher own some book that will interest boys and girls? Will she not be willing to sacrifice this possession for the benefit of boys and girls? I am glad that my books are well worn. They have been handled by young and old, many have traveled far, some have never returned. Doubtless the missing books have gone where I might not have been able to send them and I believe they are well placed. I care for my personal copies of books in proportion to the number of persons they have helped. And speaking of books, I am wondering how many teachers have a few always on their desks that help when things go wrong? I keep some in sight and so familiar have the contents become that a glance at the covers often helps through the day. Four inexpensive books I should like to recommend to teachers are as follows: Stevenson's Attitude to Life by John Genung; Imitation of Christ, Thomas á Kempis; The Art of Optimism as Taught by Robert Browning, William DeWitt Hyde, published by Thomas Y. Crowell Publishing Company; Christ's Secret of Happiness by Lyman Abbott, published by Thomas Y. Crowell Publishing Company. It may have escaped the notice of the teacher that in addition to our regular work with the schools we have organized Boys' and Girls' Clubs. for the purpose of giving an added interest to country life study. Have your boys and girls sent their names to Mr. M. P. Jones so that they may become club members? If not, will you write to Mr. Jones and ask for particulars concerning the clubs? We want to keep the young persons on the farm as near to us as possible. Write concerning this matter. Very real things can be done by means of correspondence if we can keep the children interested. Soils. Often to teachers who have had no experience along agricultural lines such lessons as we are publishing on soils may seem uninteresting. Any teacher, however, who gives some thought to the matter will realize that a lesson on soils can be made to have a good deal of life. Each lesson that we have given has required actual experimental work. The handling of the simple apparatus suggested will have an interest for the children and this kind of education is always valuable. If you did not collect soils as we suggested in the fall, perhaps at this time of year in the cities or villages you will be able to obtain specimens from florists and in the country the children may be able to get some soil from the cellars. The experimental work with soils is valuable as a preparation for work in the garden and on the farm. The Babcock Test Machine.-This month a lesson is given for testing buttermilk and skimmed milk. A Babcock test machine is needed for the lesson and we hope that the teachers who would like to use one of these machines will make a request for one. It might be a good plan for the rural school teacher to read this lesson before the farmers at some meeting and ask for a Babcock test machine for the school. It will not cost more than five dollars and it will give opportunity for some valuable and practical lessons from year to year. Wool. The lesson on wool this month is the second of a series on sheep. It will have but little value if merely read to the pupils or if the subject matter be given for the boys and girls to commit to memory. If, however, the teacher will discuss the lesson with the children in the schoolroom in preparation for a visit to some neighboring farm where sheep can be studied, the time spent will count in the education. of the farm boys and girls. Forestry. In the lesson "The Battle of the Trees" will be found many suggestions for observations. Before the children leave the schoolroom at night the teacher might suggest that they note some of the things spoken of in the lesson and be ready to talk them over the next morning. The terms used in the lesson such as, dominant, intermediate, and suppressed might be taught to the children for these terms are used in the discussion of forestry. Caution. The teacher should not make an attempt to give any of the lessons in this Leaflet unless she has materials for them or can send the children to actually see things that are discussed. The lesson on soils will be valueless unless the real experiments be made. If the lesson discussing wool be given have the children verify by actual observation at least one or two of the facts. Let each lesson have a real live interest. FIG. 66. "The trees are handsome toward the heavens, as well as up their boles. They are good for other things than boards and shingles."-Thoreau It is pleasant to think, just under the snow, Over my window the ivy climbs, Its roots are in homely jars; -Mary Mapes Dodge From out the white and pulsing storm Like children laughing at their play What care they that the skies are dim * * * O cheery bird of winter cold, I bless thy every feather; Thy voice brings back dear boyhood days When we were gay together. -From Bird and Bough by John Burroughs One advantage in our yard is that it gives access to the shrillest, coldest winds of winter. And though it is a mournful music, it is likewise of a brave, romantic kind. True comfort of indoors is complete only with a gale brattling at the windows. Nature in a City Yard by Charles M. Skinner Vegetation wants but a kindly hour to bring it up. On a February morning, in a calm between two blizzards, although it was by no means sultry, clover was found half an inch out of the earth; and three days later, in another mild spell, the warm warble of a bird was heard across the roofs. (Pity me that I don't know what kind of a bird it was!) In mid-January, after a longish spell of cold, I have found fresh leaves of buttercup and bellis and dandelion under the mulch. -Charles M. Skinner CAPILLARY MOVEMENT OF WATER AND SOIL MULCHES E. O. FIPPIN The soil is able to pump up water from below or at one side as well as hold that which passes down from above. The water moves upward from particle to particle of soil until it either reaches the surface and is evaporated, passes into a plant root or is stopped by the great height |