OFFICERS AND STAFF.

Council: Principals of the Agricultural and Normal Colleges with the Superintendent of Education.

Loran A. DeWolfe, M. Sc., Director.

Miss Dora M. Baker, Secretary and Assistant.

(Staff: Professors of Normal and Agricultural Colleges

and special instructors).

Instructors are as follows:

P. J. Shaw-Horticulture and Nature Study.
J. M. Trueman-Agriculture.

H. W. Smith-Plant Diseases, Bacteriology.

W. H. Brittain-Entomology.

J. A. Benoit-Physics and Weather Work.

H. B. Vickery-Chemistry, Mineralogy and Geology.

F. G. Matthews-Woodwork, Brush and Cardboard Work.

R. H. Wetmore-Botany, Biology.

L. A. DeWolfe-Extension, Birds.

Miss Dora M. Baker-Garden, Greenhouse, Games and Sports, Enter

tainments.

Miss Helen Macdougall, Home Economics.

SYLLABUS.

Nature Study.

Aims and purposes of Nature Study.

Distinction between Nature Study and information about nature on the one hand and formal science on the other.

Stages in Nature Study lessons:-(1) observation (as active experience), (2) reasoning upon the material observed or actions performed and (8) expressing the observations, actions, judgments, applications, in the most suitable way or by different modes.

Observation, in the limited sense, distinguished from experiment.

Nature Study, a method of teaching by environment and experience, rather than a mass of knowledge about nature.

Environment and experience considered and analyzed as the field of Nature Study from the point of view of subject matter.

How geography (in part), physiology (in large part), arithmetic (in part), may be taught as Nature Study.

The correlations of Nature Study with literature, the expressive arts, arithmetic, mechanic and domestic science and agriculture.

The preparation of the teacher-Proficiency in heuristic (investigational) as distinguished from informational or memoriter methods of instruction; elementary knowledge of the sciences; knowledge of the use of manuals and books of reference, with a view, not to acquire knowledge to restate to the pupils, but to guide them in their investigations.

The place of Nature Study in the Time Table.

Nature of aids and proper methods of using them:-Books, pictures, microscopes, aquaria, terraria, museum, etc.

The use and abuse of collections.

Reference Book- Nature Study, Dearness (Copp, Clark Co., Toronto).

School Gardening and Horticulture.

The educational uses of the cultivation of plants, mental, moral, physical and economic values. The school garden a nature study laboratory.

Indoor gardening:-The preparation of the soil for potting and seed-planting; putting plants and seeds in pots and window boxes, and their care and management

Study of the germination of seeds and the transplanting, potting and repotting of plants. Testing the vitality of seeds.

The Outdoor School Garden:-Consideration of the situation, size, preparation and fertilization of the soil, selection of suitable kinds of flowers and vegetables planning and laying out the garden, planting and seeding the plots and borders, subsequent cultivation and care of the garden.

Study of the propagation of plants by seeds, cuttings, budding and grafting.

The Home garden plot as supplementary to the School garden, or as a substitute for it when the latter cannot be had.

Relation of insects to the plants of field, orchard and garden. Fungous diseases of economic plants.

Arbor Day. Tree raising, tree planting, care of trees.

Reference Book:-The Nursery Book, Bailey.

General Biology.

(Macmillan Co.).

Living substance, the cell. Primary functions of the organism, metabolism.

Growth, reproduction.

Organic response, effects of life conditions, principles of classification.

The relation of Biology to health, prosperity and civilization.

Botany.

Identification of common plants, including ferns, mosses, trees, etc. Plant Societies and Struggle to Exist.

Modifications of parts of plants for special work.

A study of a few garden flowers and vegetables.

Seed dispersal and seed germination.

The form and function of each part of any given plant.

The general physiology of plants.

Relation of Environment to Habit.

Plant collections.

Use of a systematic botanical key.

The strong feature of the course will be the field work. Systematic Botany will be kept in the background and the subject will be simply one phase of Nature Study. The aim will be to acquire habits and information that will be useful in teaching children. A course in formal botany, such as would be given in Colleges, will not be attempted.

Reference Books:-The Principles of Botany, Bergen and Davis, (Ginn & Co. Boston).

Biology, Bailey and Coleman (MacMillan & Co., New York).

Gray's New Manual of Botany, 7th Edition. (American Book Co., New
Farm Weeds (Department of Agriculture, Canada).

York).

Those having any botanical text book such as Spotton, Gray or Bailey should bring it to Truro with them.

Chemistry.

A laboratory course in the chemistry of the farm and home based on the facts and laws of the science as mastered in the high school course.

The chemistry of lime as used in whitewash, disinfectant, Bordeaux misture and cement.

The chemistry of carbon; combustion; comparison of fuels.

Water,-qualities of different kinds testing purity and hardness.

Soap-making.

Plant and animal products,-testing for potash, phosphoric acid, nitrogen, iron, carbon, calcium in bone, seeds, etc. The chemistry of starch, sugar, fat, proteid, milk.

Fermentation.

Ultimate and proximate composition of soil.

The chemistry of fertilizers-testing for elements as above, in plant and animal products. Examination of a few commercial fertilizers.

A few simple experiments to illustrate the chemistry of fungicides, insecticides, paint, dyes, food-preservatives.

Co.).

Reference Books:-Chemistry of Plant and Animal Life, Snyder. (Macmillan

Entomology.

The economic phases of insect life will receive special attention.

Mutual relations of insects and plants.

Study of at least five insects in respect to metamorphoses and foods.
Study of certain insects, beneficial or injurious, on the farm and in the home.
Structure of mouth, wing, legs, body; adaptations to environment.

Classification so far as to enable a student to place the common insects in their natural orders and the study of a collection representative of the common orders.

Text Book:-Manual of Insects, Comstock. (Comstock Pub. Co., Ithaca, N. Y.).

Agriculture.

Types and Methods of Farming followed in Nova Scotia with comparisons between the various parts of the Province. Consideration of principles involved including:

The Soil-Principles of Fertility-Its Development and Maintenance, Tillage, Drainage, Fertilizers, Rotation of Crops, etc.

Field Crops-Characteristics of Different Crops and how these Characteristics adapt them to conditions and to purposes. Methods of Cultivation and handling of each. Farm Implements and Labor Saving Machinery.

Live Stock-Its Importance in Farm Economy. Adaptability of Types and Breeds of Stock to the requirements of the Farm. Principles of feeding and care of animals. Care and handling of products including dairying.

Some practical work will be given, the amount depending on the time allowed for the course.

Reference Books:-Soils by Burkett. Agriculture by Brooks:-Types and Breeds of Farm Animals, Plumb.

Bacteriology.

An introductory study of bacteia.

Relation to health and disease.

The bacteria of the soil; nitrification; denitrification; nitrobacteria in their relation to leguminous plants; conditions favorable to growth of desirable soilbacteria.

Bacteria in relation to dairying.

Methods of disinfection.

Text Book:-The Story of Germ Life by H. W. Conn (D. Appleton & Co., N. Y.).

Mechanic Science.-Brush and Cardboard Work.

Brush Drawing:-Materials, their preparation and use. A short course in impression work and brush drawing proper. Applications to nature work in the other courses.

Paper and Cardboard Modeling:-The necessary drawings for the development of models. The manipulation of tools and materials.

Mechanic Science.-Wood-Work.

The use of tools. Students to make plant-press, insect box and spreading board, or equivalent models.

Text Book:-The Theory of Educational Sloyd, Otto Salomon.

& Son, London, Eng.).

Physics.-Mechanics.

(Geo. Philip

The study of the principles of mechanics, pressure, force, lever, wheel, screw, etc.-as applied to farm machinery, pumps, etc.

The salient features of Chaps. I, II, III, IV, V, X, XI, XII and XIV of Applied mechanics for beginners," Duncan, (The MacMillan Co.), indicate what is expected of students in this class.

Physics.-Weather-Work.

Making and recording observations upon the elements of weather:-temperature, moisture, pressure, wind, cloud, etc.

The principles and the methods of using instruments to measure temperature moisture, etc. Methods of improvising simple forms of some of these instruments.

Practise in making deductions from the various records kept.

The causes and movements of storms.

Text Book:-The Story of the Atmosphere, Douglas, (Appleton & Co.).

Geology and Soil Physics.

The study of soil as disintegrated rock:-silicates, limestone, gypsum, etc. The rocks to be studied from specimens and as far as possible in their native situation.

Typical geological formations; examination of the local ones; illustration of strata, folds, dip, fracture, weathering, etc.

Formation of river-valley, intervale, salt-marsh, springs.

Study of the nature and significance of some of the common fossils found in our coal and limestone beds.

Review of the geological map of the Province, each student to study particularly the part of the map treating of his own neighborhood.

The methods of taking samples of soild.
Mechanical analysis of three typical soils.

Determination of the percentage of air and water in soil.
Temperature of soil and its modifying factors.

The effects on clay of lime salt, gypsum and humus.

The relation of size of particles of soil to water holding power.

The capillarity of at least two kinds of soil, and the rate of percolation thru them. Power of air-dry soils to absorb water. Texture of soils-heavy and light. Soil solutions.