S 495 i .L3 : Copy 1 A MANUAL FOR Laboratory and Field Studies IN- AGRICULTURE -BY- JOHN M. LECATO, A. B., A. M. Head of the Department of Biology and Agriculture, Marshall College STATE NORMAL SCHOOL HUNTINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA SWAN PRINTING & STATIONERY COMPANV HUXTIXOTOS, W. VA. / A MANUAL FOR Laboratory and Field Studies IN AGRICULTURE BY JOHN M. LEGATO, A. B., A. M. Head of the Department of Biology and Agriculture, Marshall College STATE NORMAL SCHOOL HUNTINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA $> c,<^ V PREFACE The aim of tliis manual is to givo the beginner in Agriculture something concrete to build upon be- sides the ordinary text-book work, vvhieli amounts to little unless the student can deuionstirate the prin- ciples set fortli in the liook for himself. ^ly abject is to make Agriculture a live subject instead of a lifeless one, which is too often forced upon unwilling ears. The work is planned for a one year's course, consisting of three hours of recitation and four hours of laboratory work per week. A large number of the exercises are based upon Farmers' Bulletins pur- posely, rather than text-books, since the Bulletins are availaible to all, wliile suitable reference books are next to impossible to procure in many of our schools. I have also kept in mind the fact that many schools cannot afford expensive apparatvis, and have arranged the exercises according'ly. The entire equipment for a section of twelve can l)e purchased for $100.00 or less. I wish to express my appreciation to Professor W. II. Franklin, who has read the manuscript critically; to Professor W. A. Adamson, who criticised the chemistry part of the manual; and to Miss Mary Donaldson, my associate, who tried out the Tree Key. Above all I wish to thank my wife, Esther Virginia LeCato, without whose help this manual could not have been brought to completion. J. M. LeCATO, June 10, 1915. Marshall College, Huntington, W. Va. )G1A416319 NOV -9 1915 EQUIPMENT Each student should provide himself with the following equipment: 1. A text-hook. 2. A cop}' of this manual. 3. One -i-H drawing peneil. ■4. Two llanilla folders for laboratory records. 5. Other equipment will he furnished by the school. DIRECTIONS FOR LABORATORY WORK. 1. The laboratory work is an essential part of the course and the final grade is largely determined by the attitude of the student in the laboratory and the results accomplished. 2. Accuracy of statement is essential in writing up an exercise. Express the facts correctly. The writings must lie in ink and must be legible. 3. Drawings should be carefully made with a 411 drawing pencil. Drawings made or inked with a fountain pen cannot lie accepted. Grading will be upon neatness, accuracy and clearness. 4'. The student is held responsil)le for any exercise or part of exercise missed by absence. Arrange for making up back work within a week after returning to the class. Credit is not given for exercises worked outside the laboratory. 5. The records of each laboratory exercise will be collected at the close of the laboratory period. No reports will be accepted after the time limit set by the instructor. 6. Do not mark or deface the laboratory tables or other furniture of the laljoratory. Injury to a 'microscope or other apparatus, caused by careless usage or abuse, or lost parts, are charged against the student. If an instiimient is out of order, or if you do not understand anything about it, report to the instructor at once. FORESTRY. A key to the common forest trees of West Virginia. A Leaves linear, flat or awl shaped ; cone-bearing ; usually evergreen Conifers B Leaves needle-like or flattened, single or in elustei"s. C Leaves in clusters. D Leaves and cones more than two inches long, evergreen Pine (Pinus) DD Leaves and cones two inches or less in length, deciduous Larch (Larix) CC Leaves not in clusters. D Leaves stalked, cones %-ineh long Hemlock (Tsuga) DD Leaves not stalked. E Leaves flattened, soft; cones 2-4 inches long, erect _ Fir (Abies) EE Leaves 4-sided, harsh; cones 3-G inches long, pendent Spruce (Picea) BB Leaves scale-like. C Branches flattened; fruit a cone Arborvitae or White Cedar (Thuja) CC Branches not flattened; fruit a small blue berry Red Cedar (Juniperus) AA Leaves broad and flat, not evergreen. B Leaves and buds alternately or spirally arranged. C Leaves simple. D Margin of leaves toothed, saw-toothed or lobed. E Branches thorny Hawthorn (Crataegus) EE Branches not thorny. F Leaves synmietrical at base. G Leaves not lobed, but coarsely toothed on edges. H Leaves elongate. I Leaves 3-5 inches long, shiny beneath. Spray fine ; bark steel grey ; fruit a small bur IBeech (Fagus) II Leaves 4-8 inches long. J Fruit a large bur; bark brownish, vertically furrowed Chestnut (Castanea) JJ Fruit an acorn ; buds and leaves clustered on end of twig...Chestnut Oak (Quereus) HH Leaves rounded; buds .scaly, often sticky; bark light colored. Poplar (Populus) GG Leaves not lobed but finely serrate. H Leaf-blades more than three times as long as broad Willow (Salix) HH Leaf-blades not three times as long as broad. I Bark smooth; trunk fluted "Water Beech (Carpinus) II Bark not smooth. •J Bark stringy, grey brown _.. Iron wood (Ostrya) JJ Bark coming oft in angular black flakes; twigs bitter Wild Cherry (Pruiiusl JJJ Bark coming off in thin rolls Birch (Betula) GGG Leaves lobed. II Lobes with prickly points Scarlet, Red, Black and Pin Oaks (Quercus) HH Lobes without prickly points. I Leaves of two kinds on tree, lobed and not lobed. J Leaves thin, glabrous, twigs spicy, aromatic Sassafras (Sassafi'as) JJ Leaves thicker, pubescent, twigs exuding milky juice when cut...Mulberry (Morns) II Leaves similar. J Leaves truncate on top Tulip Tree (Liriodendrou; J J Leaves not truncate, deeply lobed at base Wliite Oak ( Quercus ) JJJ Leaves more or less triangular, or star-shaped. K Bark peeling, white; fruit a smooth ball Sycamore (Plataniis) KK Bark not peeling; fruit a spiny ball Sweet Gum (Liquidamber) FF Leaves not symmetrical. G Leaves doubly serrate; fruit a samara; tree vase-shaped in open Elm (Ulmus) GG Leaves singly serrate. II Leaves as long as broad, heart-shaped; fruit nut-like, hanging in clustere Basswood (Tilia) HH Leaves longer than broad, ovate lanceolate; fruit a dark purple drupe Hackberry (Celtis) DD Leaf margins smooth, not lol)ed. E Leaves ovate to lanceolate; fruit a drupe Black Gum (Nyssa) EP] Leaves lanceolate, petioles pubescent; fruit a berry Persimmon (Diospyros) EEE Leaves rounded; fruit a pod , Redbud (Cercis) CC Leaves compound. D Twigs or branches armed. E Twigs armed; leaflets not serrate Black Locust (Robinia) EE Twigs unarmed; trunk and large branches armed; leaflets serrate...Honey Locust (Gleditsia) DD Twigs or branches unarmed. E Leaflets entire except at base. Leaves large, exuding milky, evil-smelling juice when broken Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus) EE Leaflets serrate. F Leaflets more than 21/^ inches broad; twigs compact Hickory (Carya) FF Leaflets less than 2i/o inches broad ; pith of twigs chambered Walnut (Juglans) BB Leaves and buds oppositely arranged or whorled. C Leaves simple. D Leaves lobed Maple (Acer) DD Leaves not lobed. E Leaves serrate '.. Nannyberry ( Viburnum ) EE Leaves entire. F Leaves 3-5 inches long, spray fine Dogwood (Corn us) FF Leaves 5-12 inches long, often whorlpd; fruit long cylindrical capsule Catalpa (Catalpa) CC Leaves compound. D Leaves digitately compound Ilorsechestnut or Buckeye (Aeseulus) DD Leaves pinnately compound. E Leaflets 3-5, samaras paired Box Elder (Acer) EE Leaflets 5-11, samaras not paired Ash (Praxinus) ,4 GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED IN FORESTRY. Acute — Sharp-pointed. Alburmim — The sap wood. Annual — Yearly. Berry — A thin-rind juicy fruit, usually with more than one seed. Blade — The broad part of a leaf. Compound — PIa\'ing more than one leatiet. Deciduous — Not persistent. Applied to leaves falling in autumn. Digitate — Applied to a compound leaf in which all the leaflets radiate from the top of the petiole. Drupe — A single seeded fleshy fruit. Duramen — The heart wood. Fluted — Not round, angular. Glabrous — Without hair of any kind. Inter node — The space between two nodes. Lanceolate — Applied to leaves broadest at base and tapering to apex. Lateral — .Coming from the side. Latent — Appearing late or dormant. Leaf Scar — Scar left by last year's leaf. Lenticles — Small breathing pores that appear as dots upon the branches. Linear — Applied to a leaf which is many times longer than broad, as that of the pine. Settcd — Veins running into each other. Node — The point on a stem from which a leaf develops. Obovate — Broader at tip than at base. Obtuse — Blunt or rounded. Ovate — Rounded at both ends. Pendent — Hanging. Petiole — The stem of a leaf. Pinnate — Applied to a compound leaf where the leaflets are arranged on each side of a common petiole. Pome — An apple-like fruit. Pubescent — Downy or hairy. Samara — A dry fruit with a wing-like appendage, as that of the maple. Serrate — Toothed. Spray — The twigs at the end of a branch. Stipule — A leaf-like organ at the base of a petiole. Symmetrical — Having both sides exactSy alike. Trr)ninal — End. Truncate — Cut off. EXERCISE 1. Leaves: ]\Iake an outline drawing of three of the leaves furnished you. Identify and label the following parts: Blade, veins, petiole (stem), and stipules (if present). Describe each leaf, using such of the following terms as applicable. If you do not know the meaning of these terms consult glossary above. Blade : Simple or compound. Venation : Parallel, netted, palmate, pinnate. General Form : Linear, oblong, lanceolate, oval, ovate, obovate. Apex: Acute, obtuse, truncate. JIargin : Entire, serrate, dentate, sinuate, lobed. Compound Lea\'es: Pinnat«ly compound, bi-pinuately compound, palmately compound. Petioles: Round, flat. EXERCISE 2. Stems: Study the branch of the basswood or some other common tree. Identify and locate all of the following features present: Node, internode, leaf sears, stipular scars, lal^r-al buds, term- inal buds, branch scars, lateral bud sear, t^'minal bud scars, lenticles, latent buds, and annual rings. Draw and label carefully the features noted. EXERCISE 3. Fruits : Study the fruits of the foUlowing trees : Maple, Elm, Walnut, Chestnut, Ash, Apple, Sweet Gum, Sycamore, Persimmon, Black Gum, Basswood, Locust. Write a description of each of the aliove fruits, using such of the following terms as applicable : Samara, pome, nut, pod, berry, drupe. EXERCISE 4. Field Trip : Oliject to study trees. Each student should provide himself with an old magazine for collecting leaves, a small box for collecting fruits, and a cheap notebook for taking notes. Do not try to write a detailed description of the tree in the field, but see that you have the following points before lea\dng each tree: (1) common name, (2) branch system, (3) form of leaf, (4) shape of tree as a whole, (5) kind and color of bark, (6) fruit, (if present). Return to the laboratory and fill in the following table: 5 (Over; EXERCISE 4.— Continued. NAME OF TREE No. of Species Found Branch System Form of Leaf Shape of Tree BARK Fruit Color Texture 1 1 • ■ 1 i 1 EXERCISE o. Classify fifteen of the common trees of this locality aeeording to the outline below : Common Name tieuus Brani-li System Leavks Simple or Form \'fn;iliou Compound Fruit j i 1 1 » i 1 EXERCISE 6. Identification by Means of Key. Identify by means of the key the three trees selected. Write down the steps as you go, but do not put anything down until you are reasonably sure you are correct. EXERCISE 7. Identification by Means of Key. Identify as many species as possible. Have the identification of each species approved before youstart to identify another one. EXERCISE 8. The Study of Sections of Oak Wood. Examine a cross section of a young oak tree. Note three regions: (1) the heart, wood, duramen; (2) the sap wood, the alMirnum ; (3) the bark. Do you note any difference in color in the three? If so, what? Which of the three is the hardest? What special function does each of these regions perform ? Notice concentric rings from the pith outward. How many are there in your specimen? Are all of them the same distance apart? If not, why are some closer together than others? WTiy are these rings called annual rings? Notice the pith rays running across the rings. Are all of them the same length ? How can you account for the difference in length ? What work do the pith rays do? Draw a surface view of the section, showing all parts studied. EXERCISE 9. The Study of Sections op Wood. Study cubes of oak wood furnished you. Pic- ture in your mind how it w-as cut. Identify all markings. Locate the folio wng sections : (1) transverse, (2) i-adial longitudinal (cut parallel to rays), (3) tangential longitudinal (cut at right angles to rays). Describe the appearance of the pith rays in each. Draw a diagram showing how quarter sawn boards are cut. Wliat is the advantage of quarter sawing over tiat sawing? Which is the most saving of lum- ber? Why is quarter saviTi wood so high priced? Examine some furniture. How can you tell which has been flat sawn and which quarter sawm? EXERCISE 10. Microscopic Sections of Wood. Examine the sections given you with the low power of the microscope or with a hand lens. Is it a cross or longitudinal section? How can you tell the difference ? Note in the center of the stem the pith, made up of thin-walled clear cells. Just outside the pith note the wood or xylem. Can you see large openings in the wood? These are the tracheal ves- sels. Their use is to take water and minerals from the roots to the leaves. Is there any regularity in their distribution ? Notice between the tracheae the wood fibres, small cells with thick walls. On the outer edge of the xylem note a ring of thin-walled brick-shaped cells, the cambium. This is the dividing line between the bark and the wood. It is the growing region of the stem. All of the tissue on the outside of the cambium layer is known as the phloem. How many different kinds of tissue do you see? Do all of the cell walls in this region have the same thickness? On the very outside of the phloem note a single layer of cells called the epidermis. Note the pith rays running from the pith outward. EXERCISE 11. The Estimation of the Number of Board Feet per Acre. Count all trees in a circular area of 118 feet in diameter (1/4 acre) ; measure several trees and select one as nearly the average as possible. How many 16 feet logs may be cut from it? Estimate the diameter of the tree inside of the bark at top and Iwttom; then add these figures and divide the result by 2. Square this number, then sub- tract 60, multiply by 8 ; this gives the number of board feet in a 16 foot log. Multiply the number of board feet by the number of 16 foot logs found in the average tree. This ^viYl give you the number of board feet found in the average tree; then miiltiply this number by the number of trees found in one- fourth of an acre and you will get the number of board feet in this area. REFERENCES ON FORESTRY AND RELATED SUBJECTS. Selected from Farmers' Bulletins. Bulletin No. 99. — Insect Enemies of Shade Trees. Bulletin No. 134. — Tree Planting on Rural School Grounds. Bulletin No. 173.— Primer of Forestry, Part I. Bulletin No. 113.— The Apple and How to Gronv It. Bulletin No. 181.— Pruning. Bulletin No. 358.— Primer of Forestry, Part II. Bulletin No. 467. — The Control of the Chestnut-bark Disease. Bulletin No. 482.— The Pear and How to Grow It. Bulletin No. 491. — The Profitable ^lanagement of the Small Apple Orchard on the General Farm. Bulletin No. 492. — The More Important Insect and Fungous Enemies of the Apple. Bulletin No. 582.— The Use of Chestnut Timber Killed by the Bark Disease. Bulletin No. 600. — An Outfit for Boring Taprooted Stumps for Blasting. Bulletin No. 622.— Basket Willow Culture. Bulletin No. 631. — Growing Peaches. Bulletin No. 632. — Growing Peaches. Bulletin No. 633. — Growing Peaches. SECTION II.— SOILS. EXERCISE 12. The Study of Soil Particles. Examine samples of gravel, sand, peat, clay, loam, and silt. Do you note any difference in size of particles? Take some of each and rub between thumb and forefinger. Which has the smallest particles? Take very small samples of each soil and put them on a slide. Examine with the hand lens or with the comiJouud iiiierosecpe. Are all of the grains the same size, color, and texture? If not, what are the chief differences ' Which has tlie most decayed plant matter in it? Is the amount of decayed plant matter and the color associated in any way? Describe each soil and draw several particles of each. If one particle is tive times larger than another, denote size by 5X. Denote the smallest by X. EXERCISE 13. The Studv of Soil Particles. Fill tive jars lialf full of water, then put into No. 1 four spoonfuls of sand ; into No. 2, clay ; into No. 3, silt ; into No. 4, loam. Shake each thoroughly for two minutes, then set aside. Which became clear first? lias the time of settling any relation to the size of particles ? EXERCISE 14. Clay and Sandy Soils. C^iay is called a heavy soil, and sand a light soil. Fill two cans of equal weight, one with clay and the other with sand ; pack lioth down and weigh. What results? Take a shallow pan and fill it three-quarter-, full of clay. Take another and till it three-quarters full of sand. Put half a pint of water on each, then work both with a stick. Which works the easier? Put both away until the next laboratory period. Describe the appearance of both. Would you advise a farmer to plow just after a rain? Do the terms heavy and light refer to the actual weight of soils or to the ease or difficulty of cultivation? EXERCISE 15. The Porosity of Soils and Their Capacity to Hold Rainfall. Pill five soil tubes with difTerent kinds of soils. Compact each tube by jarring it lightly upon the table, then weigh. Pour water into each tulw just rapidly enough to keep the surface soil covered. Time the interval until the first drop appears in the receptacle. Stop pouring water into the tube at once, but put a piece of rubber cloth or waxed paper over the top of the tube to prevent evaporation. Weigh each tube as soon as it stops dripping. Figure out per cent, of gain in each case. This represents the soil's water holding capacity. Make several practical applications of the principles brought out in this experiment. EXERCISE 16. The Ability of Soils to Take Moisture from L 15 21/1 14 2 EXERCISE 69. The Preparation of Kerosene Emulsion, a Contact Insecticide. The formula for making this insecticide is as follows: Hard soap, !/> pound (finely shaved) ; hot water, 1 gallon, (soft) ; Kerosene, 2 gallons. Dilute with 50 gallons of water. This insecticide may be made in the laboratory by dissolving 1 gram of soap in 16 cc. of bolting water; after the soap has dissolved add 30 cc. of kerosene. Now shake the liquid thoroughly until the solution is emulsified. What is its color now? Do you see any particles of free kerosene? This solution is too strong to be put on tender plants and should be diluted wdth 500-600 cc. of water. This preparation is very effective against plant lice of various kinds. How does it kill them? EXERCISE 70. Purity Test for Paris Green. Paris green is often diluted with other materials which do no harm to insects, but cost the farmer a great deal of money. Collect samples of Paris green from several local dealers. Bring some of it to the laboratory and weigh out 1 gram. Put it into a breaker and add 25 cc. of ammonia of water. Stir vigorously for five minutes, then let it stand for ten. Is the solution a clear dark blue or is it murky-looking? Is there a solid residue left? Murkiness and a solid residue indicate impurities. REFERENCES ON PLANT DISEASES, FUNGICIDES AND RELATED SUBJECTS. Selected from Farmers' Bulletins. Bulletin No. 221. — Fungous Diseases of the Cranberry. Bulletin No. 243. — Fungicides and their Use in Preventing Diseases of Fruits. Bulletin No. 284. — Insect and Fungous Enemies of the Grape. Bulletin No. 345.— Some Common Disinfectants. Bulletin No. 440. — ^Spraying Peaches for the Control of Brown Rot, Scab, and Curculio. Bulletin No. 467. — Chestnut-bark Disease. Bulletin No. 476.— The Dying of Pine in the Southern States. Bulletin No. 488. — Diseases of Cabbage and Related Crops. Bulletin No. 489.— Two Dangerous Imported Plant Diseases. Bulletin No. 492. — The Fungous Enemies of the Apple. Bulletin No. 507.— The Smuts of Wheat, Oats, Barley and Corn. Bulletin No. 544. — Potato-tuber Diseases. Bulletin No. 555. — Cotton Anthracnose. Bulletin No. 618. — Leaf Spot, a Disease of the Sugar Beet. Bulletin No. 625.— Cotton Wilt. 20 REFERENCES ON INSECTS AND INSECTICIDES. Selected from Farmers' Bulletins. Bulletin No. 99. — Insect Enemies of Shade Trees. Bulletin No. 120. — Insects Affecting Tobacco. Bulletin No. 127. — Important Insecticides. Bulletin No. 172. — Scale Insects and Jlites on Citrus Trees. Bulletin No. 178. — Insects Injurious in Cranberry Culture. . Bulletin No. 264.— The Brown Tail iloth. Bulletin No. 275.— The Gypsy Moth. Bulletin No. 442. — The Treatment of Bee Diseases. uBUetin No. 444. — Remedies and Preventatives Against Mosquitoes. Bulletin No. 447.— Bees. Bulletin No. 450. — Some Facts About Malaria. Bulletin No. 453. — Danger of Spread of the Gypsy and Brown-tail Moths. Bulletin No. 456.— Our Grosbeaks and their Value to Agriculture. Bulletin No. 459. — House Flies. Bulletin No. 478. — How to Prevent Typhoid Fever. Bulletin No. 500.— Control of the Boll Weevil. Bulletin No. 503.— Comb Honey. Bulletin No. 506.— Food of Well-known Birds. Bulletin No. 512.— The Boll Weevil Problem. Bulletin No. 540.— The Stable Fly. Bulletin No. 543.— White Grubs. Bulletin No. 547. — The Yellow Fever Mosquito. Bulletin No. 557.— The Potato Tuber Moth. Bulletin No. 564.— The Gypsy and the Brown-tail Moths. Bulletin No. 593. — Arsenate of Lead as an Insecticide. Bulletin No. 606. — Collection and Preservation of Insects for Class Use. Bulletin No. 626.— The Carpet Beetle. Bulletin No. 630.^Common Birds Useful to the Farmer. 21 SECTION VII. VEGETABLE GARDENING. EXERCISE 71. The Recognition of Vegetable Seed. Examine seed of 25 of our common vege- tables. Classify them according to the following table : NAME Shape Spherical Flat Oblong SUEFACE Smooth Rough Angular Color Light Medium Dark Size Small Medium Large y ( 22 EXERCISE 72. The Classification of Vegetables. Classify the vegetables grown in your locality according to the following table : name Bulb Tuber Folin£;e Stem Fruit 23 EXERCISE 73. The Marketing of Vegetables. Visit several local stores or markets to see how vegetables are sold. Before leaving each store see that you have the foilowing points: (1) Note how the vegetables are packed and displayed. (2) Price. (3) Whether home or foreign grown. (4) Variety. (5) Quality. Hand in a written report of this trip tomorrow. EXERCISE 74. Planting of Student Gardens. Suggest a planting for the plots on page 25, keep- ing in mind that in every garden we should have (1) variety; (2) a succession of vegetables; (3) spring and fall crops. 24 o u -J 9 < S 2 I Q.S Z Q <-l V via M 1 esi O o CM 0> 05 l-H 00 t^ I-l fO to in in i-i rf <-< M N IM 1^ a «£ c V 00 CM * N V J) £ N a. t^ B e Ha S 00 N M e X o F ^* V « Q m QU « u e 3 t) ■0 3 r tn N o N f 1 1 ^4 N to eft H H O O _j -] 0. 0. •« 6S 25 ( EXERCISE 75. Planting Table. Fill in the following table for our common vegetables: NAME Part Planted Date of Planting in Open Plan'tinv; Distance Rows Plants in Rows Days to Maturity 27 ( EXERCISE 76. Home Garden. Draw a plan of your ideal home garden, size 50 by 100 feet. Lay it off in beds and rows and show what plants you would have in it on June 1st. 29 REFEEENCES ON VEGETABLE GARDENING AND RELATED SUBJECTS. Selected from Farmers' Bulletins. Bulletin No. 61. — Asparagus Culture. Bulletin No. 62. — Marketing Farm Produce. Bulletin No. 121. — Beans, Peas and Other Legumes as Food. Bulletin No. 154.— The Home Garden. Bulletin No. 185. — Beautifying the Home Grounds. Bulletin No. 213. — Raspberries. Bulletin No. 218.— The School Garden. Bulletin No. 220.— Tomatoes. Bulletin No. 224.— Canadian Field Peas. Bulletin No. 232.— Okra. Bulletin No. 254. — Cucumbers. •■ Bulletin No. 255. — The Home Vegetable Garden. Bulletin No. 256. — Preparation of Vegetables for the Table. Bulletin No. 282.— Celery. Bulletin No. 289.— Beans. Bulletin No. 324.— Sweet Potatoes. Bulletin No. 354 — Onion Culture. Bulletin No. 359. — Canning Vegetables in the Home. Bulletin No. 407.— The Potato as a Truck Crop. Bulletin No. 433.— Cabbage. Bulletin No. 434. — The Home Production of Onion Seed and Sets. Bulletin No. 460. — Frames as a Factor in Truck Growing. Bulletin No. 521. — Canning Tomatoes. Bulletin No. 548. — Marketing Sweet Potatoes. 30 SECTION VIII. FIELD CROPS. EXERCISE 77. Potatoes. Examine samples of several local varieties. Are the seed home or foreign grown? Wliat are the advantages of foreign grown over home grown seed? Make a detailed study of the samples, using the outline below as a guide : VARIETY Color Average Weight Shape Many Eyes Pew Deep Shallow Condition 31 EXERCISE 78. Amount op Waste in Different Vaeieties of Potatoes. Weigh and pare thre* potatoes of about the same size of each variety, being careful not to take off more paring than is neces- sary. Re-weigh. What per cent, did each variety lose in paring? Wliat variety would be the cheapest for home consumption? 79. The Distribution op Potatoes in the United States. Use the data below, selected # EXERCISE from United States Year Book, 1913. Show the distribution of potatoes by putting one dot for every 100,000 bushels on the map on the next page. State Bushels State Bushels jMaine „ 28,160.000 New Hampshire 2,074,000 Vermont _ 3,175,000 JIassachusetts „_ 2,835,000 Rhode Island _ 650,000 Connecticut _ „ 2,208,000 New York. 26,640,000 New Jersey 8,930,000 Pennsylvania _ - _ 23,320,000 Delaware 957,000 Maryland ._ 3,741,000 Virginia 9,870,000 West Virginia.. North Carolina. South Carolina. Georgia Florida 3,984,000 2,400,000 800,000 972,000 912,000 Ohio _..- 10,240,000 Indiana „ 3,975,000 Illinois „....-. 5,750,000 Michigan _ 33,600,000 Wisconsin _ 32,155,000 Minnesota _ „ 30,250,000 Iowa 7,200,000 Missouri 3,230,000 North Dakota 5,100,000 South Dakota 4,680,000 Nebraska _ 5,664,000 Kansas 2,920,000 Kentucky 2,450,000 Tennessee 2,432,000 Alabama 1,512,000 :Mississippi 960,000 Louisiana 1,750,000 Texas 2,340,000 Oklahoma „ 1,920,000 Arkansas 1 ,800,000 :\Iontana __ 5,040,000 Wyoming. _ _ 1,680,000 Colorado 9,200,000 New :\Iexico 612,000 Arizona _.... 75,000 Utah 3,600,000 Nevada „ - - _ 1,760,000 Idaho - -... 5,780,000 Washington 7,380,000 Oregon - _... 6,750.000 California 8,092,000 32 EXERCISE 80. Corn. Study ears of as many types and varieties of corn as are represented locally. Fill in the following table for each variety studied: VARIETY NAME Weight of 10 grains Length of 10 grains Width of 10 grains f Wedge Shape < Spherical ( Conical ( Rounded Shape of Top ■{ Flat ( Dented Color Length of Ear Length of Cob Circumference of Ear Circumference of Cob Color of Cob COMMENT 35 EXERCISE 81. Corn Judging. SCORE CARD CORN Scale of Points. 1. Trueness to Type 10 2. Maturity and Market Condition 10 3. Shape of Ear 10 4. Length of Ear 10 5. Circumference of Ear. _ 5 6. Shape of Kernel 5 7. Uniformity of Kernel — Color — Size 10 8. Character of Germ 10 9. Butts 5 10. Tips 5 11. Straightness of Rows 5 12. Space between Rows 5 13. Size of Cob 10 Ear No. Totals.. VARIETY STANDARDS. Recognized Varieties. Yellow Length Circumference Reid's Yellow Dent _ 10 to lOi/. 714 to 71/, Learning 10 to lOi/i 7i/, to 734 Legal Tender 10 to lOi/o 71/4 to 7i/> ^VMte Boone County White 10i/> to 11 71/, to l^A St. Charles White 10 to lOi/o 714 to 71/2 Other Varieties. Yellow Gartner 9 to 91/, 71^ to 71/. St. Charles Yellow 10i/> to 11 714 to l^A White Silvermine 9 to 914 7 to 7i/4 Johnson Co. Wliite 10i/> to 11 ' 71/0 to 7-% Varieties Judged. 1. 2. 37 EXERCISE 82. Seed Tester. A seed tester may be made by sawing off the top of an old box four inches from the bottom. Put two inches of thoroughly wet sawdust or sand in the box. Cover this with a piece of white muslin which has been marked off in 2-inch squares. Number the squares from 1 up; then take six kernels from the ear to be tested, two from the butt, two from the tip and two from the middle of the ear. Put these kernels in square No. 1 and number the ear 1. Why do this? Put the kernels from as many ears as are to be tested in their respective places. Now cover the tester with sev- eral thicknesses of cloth or blotting paper. Wet thoroughly every other day for eight days. On the ninth day examine; if some of the kernels are not well germinated wait another three days and examine again. Figure out percentage of perfect germination. Tell another way you could make a seed tester at your home. Give two reasons why all seed should be tested before planting. EXERiCISE 83. The Distribution op Corn in the United States. Use the data below, selected from United States Year Book, 1913. Show the distribution of corn by putting one dot for every 100,000 bush- els on the map on the next page. State Maine 608,000 New Hampshire 814,000 Vermont 1,665,000 Massachusetts 1,944,000 Rhode Island 402,000 Connecticut 2,348,000 New York 15,020,000 New Jersey 10,862,000 Pennsylvania 57,057,000 Delaware 6,206,000 JIaryland 22,110,000 Virginia - - 51 ,480,000 North Carolina 55,282,000 South Carolina 38,512,000 West Virginia 22,692,000 Georgia 63,023,000 Florida 10,125,000 Ohio ....- 146,250,000 Indiana 176,400,000 Illinois 282,150,000 Michigan - 56,112,000 Wisconsin 66,825,000 Minnesota 96,000,000 Iowa 338,300,000 State Missouri 129,062,000 North Dakota 10,800,000 South Dakota 67,320,000 Nebraska 114,150,000 Kansas 23,424,000 Kentucky 74,825,000 Tennessee - 68,675,000 Alabama 55,360,000 ^ilississippi 63,000,000 Louisiana 41,800,000 Texas 163,200,000 Oklahoma 52,250,000 Arkansas 47,025,000 :\Iontana 882,000 Wyoming 493,000 Colorado 6,300,00a New .Mexico 1,572,000 Arizona 476,000 Utah 340,000 Nevada 34,000 Idaho 448,000 Washington 952,000 Oregon 598,000 California 1,815,000 38 EXERCISE 84. Wheat. Select several local varities of wheat. Study them carefully and record your observations in the following form : Variety Lgth. of Culm to Spike Spike a. Length .. b. Shape c. Color d. Bearded e. Beardless Length of Beards Arrangement of Glumes No. kernels to Spike Kernels a. Color b. Shape c. Hardness d. Weight of 100 41 c EXERCISE 85. The Distribution of Wheat in the United States. Use the data below, selected from United States Year Book, 1913. Show the distril)ution of wheat by putting one dot for every 500,000 bushels on the map on the next page. State. Maine 76,000 Vermont 24,000 New York 6,800,000 New Jersey 1,408,000 Pennsylvania 21,862,000 Delaware 1,638,000 Maryland 8,113,000 Virginia 10,608,000 West Virginia 3,055,000 North Carolina 7,078,000 South Carolina 972,000 Georgia 1,708,000 Ohio 35,100,000 Indiana 39,775,000 Illinois 41,888,000 Jlichigan 12,776,000 Wisconsin 3,665,000 Minnesota 68,040,000 Iowa 16,395,000 Missouri 39,586,000 North Dakota 78,855,000 State. South Dakota 33,975,000 Nebraska 62,325,000 Kansas 86,983,000 Kentucky 9,860,000 Tennessee 8,400,000 Alabama 374,000 Jlississippi 14,000 Texas 13,650,000 Oklahoma 17,500,000 Arkansas 1,313,000 Montana 20,673,000 Wyoming 2,250,000 Colorado 9,680,000 New Mexico 1,221,000 Arizona 928,000 Utah 6,420,000 Nevada 1,081,000 Idaho 14,094,000 Washington 53,300,000 Oregon 15,717,000 California 4,200,000 EXERCISE 86. Comparison of Oats, Rye, And Barley. Compare these three cereals as to (1) method of growth, (2) length and shape of blades, (3) culm, (4) head, (5) grain. Which of these three cereals is grown the most abundantly in your locality? What is each used for? 43 ( < < Bullet Bullet Bullet Bullet Bullet Bullet Bullet Bullet Bullet Bullet Bullet Bullet Bullet Bullet Bullet Bullet Bullet Bullet Bullet Bullet Bullet Bullet Bullet Bullet: Bullet Bullet Bullet Bullet Bullet Bullet Bullet Bullet Bullet Bullet Bullet Bullet REFERENCES ON FIELD CROPS AND RELATED SUBJECTS. Selected from Farmers' Bulletins. n No. 81. — Corn Culture in the South. n No. 139. — Einmer. n No. 229.— The Production of Good Seed Corn. n No. 249. — Cereal Breakfa.st Foods. n No. 253. — The Germination of Seed Corn. n No. 272. — ^A Successful Hog and Seed Corn Farm. n No. 292. — Potatoes and Other Root Crops as Food. n No. 298.— Food Value of Corn. n No. 303. — ^Corn Harvesting llaehinery. n No. 313. — Harvesting and Storing Corn. n No. 3-43. — -Cultivation of Tobacco in Kentucky. n No. 365. — Farm Management in Northern Potato-growing Sections. n No. 395.— Sixty Day Oats. n No. 399. — Irrigation of Grain. n No. 400. — A ]\Iore Profitable Corn-planting Method. n No. 414. — Corn Cultivation. n No. 415. — Seed Corn. n No. 420. — Oats ; Distribution and Uses. n No. 424. — Oats ; Growing the Crop. n No. 427.— Barley Culture. n No. 428. — Testing Farm Seeds in the Home. n No. 436. — "Winter Oats. n No. 443. — Barley; Growing the Crop. n No. 448. — Better Grain-sorghum Crops. n No. 466. — Winter Emmer. n No. 501. — Cotton Improvement. n No. 518. — Winter Barley. n No. 523. — Tobacco Curing. n No. 534. — Durum Wheat. n No. 537. — How to Grow an Acre of Corn. n No. 546. — How to ilanage a Corn Crop in Kentucky and West Virginia. n No. 552. — Kaffir as a Grain Crop. n No. 553. — Popcorn. n No. 554. — Popcorn for the ^Market. n No. 565. — Corn Meal. n No. 601.— A New Method of Cotton Culture. 47 ( ( SECTION IX. FORAGE AND PASTURE CROPS. EXERCISE 87. The Grasses. The following eight grasses are tlie most common in the United States. If, however, others not given here are grown more commonly in your locality, substitute them. Timothy, Red top, Kentucky Blue Grass, ^Meadow foxtail. Orchard grass, ]\Ieadow fescue. Smooth brome grass. Crab grass. Study each grass carefully, then record your observations in the following form : Variety 1. Culm a. Length b. Erect — c. Decumbent d. Strong e. Medium f. Slender g. Furrowed h. Foliage { gj'^jj'!''"* 2. Leaf Blade a. Length b. Width Tf T •■ 1 Prominent C. Midrib i' Medium ( Indistinct d. Open, folded 3. Flowering head a. Color b. Length c. Open d. Compressed 4 TIsp \ "">• ^- '-"'*^ i Pasture 5. Annual 6. Perennial 49 ( EXERCISE 87.— Continued. Variety 1. Culm a. Length b. Erect c. Decumbent d. Strong e. Medium _ f. Slender g. Furrowed h. Foliage {Abundao. 2. Leaf Blade a. Length b. Width -,.,., f Prominent C. Midrib { Medium I. Indistinct d. Open, folded 3. Flowering head _ a. Color b. Length c. Open d. Compressed 4. Use ! ?•■»; 1 Pasture 5. Annual 6. Perennial 51 EXERCISE 88. The Identification of Grass Seed. Study carefully pure samples of the grasses given in Exercise 87. Some grass seed are naked like the kernels of wheat, in which case it is called a caryopsis. Other seed are covered with husks, (technically the glumes) as the oat. In the latter case we speak of the "flowering glume" rather than the seed itself, which the glume covers. Another import- ant character of grass seed is the rachilla, which is the stalk to which the seed are attached on a double seeded spikelet. There is no rachilla on a single seeded spikelet. First locate the flowering glume, the rachilla and a caryopsis, then fill out the table below. 1. Variety Caryopsis a. Length b. Shape 2. Flowering Glume a. Length b. Blunt or pointed.. c. Straight or eui-ved d. Awned or awnless e. Color f. Smooth, hairy 3 Rachilla a. Present or absent... b. Long, short c. Slender, broad d. Smooth, hairy 4. Weight of 100 seed 5. Important means of identification 53 EXERCISE 88.— Continued. 1. Variety CarvoDsis a. Length b. Shape 2. Flowering Glume a. Length b. Blunt or pointed... c. Straight or curved d. Awned or awnless e. Color f. Smooth, hairy 3. Rachilla a. Present or absent.. b. Long, short c. Slender, broad d. Smooth, hairy 4. Weight of 100 seed 5. Important means of identification 55 EXERCISE 89. The Legumes. The following legumes are the most common in the United States, but substitutions should be made if any of the eight legumes listed here are not grown locally : Alfalfa, Red Clover, Alsike Clover, Crimson Clover, Sweet Clover, Cov\T)eas, Hairy Vetch, Black Medic. Study each carefully and sketch a leaflet of each. Record your observations in the form below: Variety 1. Leaves .. .. a. Arrangement b. No. of leaflets c. Palmate or pinnate d. Smooth or hairy e. Edges entire or serrate 2. Stems ... . a. Height b. Circumference at base c. Erect or trailing d. Round or square.. e. Smooth or hairy 3. Flowers , a. Color b. Bome in a raceme, umbel or head 57 EXERCISE 89.— Continued. Variety 1. Leaves i a. Arrangement b. No. of leaflets c. Palmate or pinnate d. Smooth or hairy e. Edges entire or serrate 2. Stems a. Height b. Circumference at base c. Erect or trailing d. Round or square.. e. Smooth or hairy 3 Flowers a. Color b. Borne in a raceme, umbel or head 59 EXERCISE 90. The Identification of Legume Seed. Compare an alfalfa seed to that of the bean studied in a previous exercise. What are the points of likeness and difference? Study carefully pure sam- ples of the Legume seed given in Exercise 87, but before filling out the form below be sure that you know the location of both radicle and hilum in each seed. Seed 1. Shape, view from largest diameter.. a. Spherical b. Oval - c. Kidney d. Elliptical 2. Shape, view from smallest diameter a. Round b. Oval e Flat 3. Length, largest diam. 4 Color a Oranee b. Yellowish brown .. c. Dark Olive Green.. d. Black - e Yellow f. Reddish g. Red h Green 5 TTilnm a. Round b. Oval - Elongate 6 Radicle a. Tip prominent b. Tip not prominent 1 1 61 EXERCISE 90.— Continued. Seed 1. Shape, view from largest diameter.. a. Spherical b. Oval e. Kidney d. Elliptical 2. Shape, view from smallest diameter a. Round b. Oval c. Plat 3. Length, largest diam. 4 Color a. Oranee b. Yellowish brown .. c. Dark Olive Green.. d. Black e. Yellow f. Reddish g. Red h. Green J 5. Hilum a. Round b. Oval c. Elongate 6. Radicle a. Tip prominent b. Tip not prominent 63 EXERCISE 91. The Detection of Adulterants in Grass and Legume Seed. Take several samples of commercial seed and examine them carefully. Pick out all sticks, chaff and seed of any plant other than that given on the label. What per cent, of the weight is pure seed? Look up in some good see