University of California • Berkeley i? & e Junior Agriculturist A Little Paper Issued Once a Week for the Boys and Girls of California 4 VOL. 1 Berkeley, California, JANUARY 30, 1911 No. 1 TERMS: Single subscriptions, per term, 20c By the month School Clubs, fifteen or more Subscriptions, each - - 15c ittances may be sent to C. A. STEBBINS University of California, Berkeley. This little agricultural paper is for you, the boys and girls of Califor- nia. It is going to help you to un- tand what farming is, and how much the work of the farmer means to you and to the world. The schools, <1 the state are getting behind the farmer and his work and we are going to ask you to do a lit- tle for your parents, for your school, and for your neighbor. Right now is the time to begin, for the more you do now, the more you will want to do later and the more good ycu do later, the more hap- py you will be. Some day you will read about lit- Chad" in the "Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come" who aft< r th<* loss of all that was dear to him but his faithful dog said to Jack, "I haint nothin but a boy but I got to act like a man now." So this little paper has a twofold purpose ( 1 ) to ask you to join our body of young California by reading this little pap< r and by following its BUgg< I n^P you to be boys and girls that Cali- fornia can be proud of. In return we u to h. teach us Bomethii ant can teach us i us faithfulness, th us joy, li you to teach your neighbors and * • • This paper was planned primar- ily to reach the boys and are itudying agriculture In m with tl the Inn For the b« ii' lit of those i working with us junior gardeners, h bers will t< 11 what tl doing. If you can not ii era In Bchool i at home and tell hs about it thr this pa You ma Dials, in your | you car«' for your how it hould be pleased if would p. or a hors. us j>. i will 04 pui ils who will do thl ani- mal. Ani: w. 11 ith us to a * • • PROBLEM QUESTIONS te to ans and they will be published in the Junior Agriculturalist. Is there air in the soil? Will the seed die if allowed to dry up after it has sprouted? Does light affect germination? Do you find devices to render es- cape from the cover easy? Try squash seeds. How much opposition can the stem overcome in forcing its way upward? Where does the growth take place in the root? In the stem of corn? Bean? * * * ROOT HAIRS Germinate several radish seeds in a small dish containing sand. Keep the sand moist. In a few days notice the minute root-hairs growing from the main root. The absorbing sur- face of the root is greatly increased by the root-hairs. The surface is sometimes increased from fifty to seventy-five times. Without root-hairs the main root would have to grow from fifty to seventy-five^ times thick- er. Lift up a seed. Notice how the root-hairs cling to the sand. The minute hairs slip in between soil crumbs where a larger root would not penetrate. The finer the soil the more surface is offered to the root- hairs. • * * * HOW TO GROW BEST VEGETABLE mere formal prizes. Good work is its own reward, its own prize. We do not want you ta be satisfied with growing a mere radish, we want you to grow the BEST radish. Any one can grow a radish with both eyes shut, but only one can grow the BEST radish. The BEST things in this world count most. Just look for and do only the best things. We have been talking to you about prizes and an exhibit to be given near the close of the term. Have we told you that there are several schools concerned in the matter? The boys and girls of Decoto, Niles, San Leandro and other schools are interested in receiving the reward, but do not think too much about How can one grow the BEST rad- ish? We have learned that the seed con- tains the embryo plant and its food. The large healthy colt makes the best horse. The large healthy seed makes the best radish. First, select only the best looking seed from the best appeasing- plants (if you gather the seeds yourself). Test the ger- minating power as follows: Place a moistened blotter in a common plate. Add 15 or 20 seeds. Invert another plate over the seeds. Watch results from day to day. Unless 90 per cent of the seeds germinate quickly, reject the seeds from which the sam- ple was taken. With the seeds selected, the second step is the preparation of the seed bed. This is an important matter. Seeds need moisture, air, food and warmth. One must see that each is furnished correctly. Examine the surrounding foliage. If the growth is not luxuriant, very like- ly the soil is lacking in food which must be supplied. Use rotted man- ure, ashes, or bonemeal. If the soil is too heavy add sand. Squeeze a handful of soil and open the hand. If the earth retains the finger prints its moisture content is about right provided it crumbles rather readily. With texture, water content, food con- tent about right, spade the soil deep- ly, two blade lengths. Fine soil means equal distribution of warmth, air, water and food. It means ease of growth for the roots and plenty of soil close against them. It pre- vents loss of capillary water. What shall we do? Make the soil fine, pick out all the pebbles and foreign matter. Make straight drills (furrows) about three-fourths cf an inch deep, sow the seeds about an eighth of an inch apart. To insure straight rows, lay a rake with blade up on the soil and press gently. Mark off two rows the proper depth. Sow the two rows, cover the first but leave the second open as a guide to the next. In cov- ering the first row pack the soil gen- tly. This brings the moisture to the seed rapidly. At the head of each row, place a label telling the veget- able planted and when. After the plants appear new direc- tions will follow. * * * HOW TO USE TOOLS With the hand in the hand grip of a spade the right farther down the handle, using foot pressure begin at one corner, preferably at the left hand corner and spade one row Iross then repeat until the ph aded. Bach spadeful of dirt should •fully broken up, but do not any tool higher than the k: omplisning this purpo bould be loosened not less than full spade length and if a pupil sir. B r-'sults a littl ter than his neighbor let two spade lengths lepth of the loosened soil. Bach plant grows In two ways, from tie of the ground up and from the Burface down and I is between the root tip and th< tij). Give the root tip fair play and of room for growth. -round should be care- n< d with hoes and rak< s un- til there are no clumps larger than little fing< r nail. The root tip time and Btrength by leaving air spaces cans* d by lumpy soil thus making it work too hard for soil and robbing it of moisture. ♦ * * SEED PLANTING Annual plants are of two general kinds, those to grow where B and those to be transplanted. Much arly seeding should be done in boxes and later the plants should moved to permanent quart pth and manner of planting Is can be largely determined by la themselves. Each normal ntains a young plant and food to nourish it until the roots have takt n held and the r« a< ■: urfaee, q< nee the nour- of the plant in a small would be soon exhaust* d, If th< young uld nev' the light Bhould be sown on ad lightly sprinkled with fine soil and tin n pressed firmly. It i: iiout thr half to u ir thickm bs. In iid be d through mi ottom of each « rally, about th of an U four Inches tall. binned and may be transplanted. from At • the plant. The aim of it hurri. form With this aim a< plished, it Vegetables CARROTS Sow in : apart, lightly and press down firmly. Thin to four inches. Ti to St; to fill OUt DOQU LETT I 'i in rov lightly, and press ONIONS Sow in drills apart and COV< r with half an it. fine soil. Thin to four is in box . Mature in four mont PBA8 Sow as above but to t v inches. BEANS Sanir B BEE I in di: • apart. Thin inches. POTATOB8 Cut I'lont tin art RADISH lnch< high, when w Bhould . with th Cuttings and Slips breaking until some are found which break with but slight report, leaving no jagged edges. Branches which bend and double are too young, those that break, leaving splintered edges are too old. With a sharp knife, cut stems off just below the bud. Some five inches from this bud cut the stem above a bud. Fill a box with about three inches of moist sand. With a pencil or a stick, make holes in the sand and into these insert the cuttings some two inches, leaving at least two buds exposed. Be careful not to bruise the stems in inserting. Pack the sand around the cuttings and to in- sure close contact between sand and stems pour a small stream of water directly on the cuttings so that the water will wash close against the stems. Use a small tin can with a hole made by a shingle nail. A few days later, if a stem is grow- ing black, or is shrinking, replace with a fresh cutting. As to later watering, sprinkle with a spray or something which throws a fine stream. The cuttings must not be disturbed. Keep the sand moist but not soaked. When the buds begin to appear, carefully break off all but the one at the top thus concentrating the growth. With the forming of two or three leaves to each stem, the cuttings may be transplanted or potted. KINDS OF SOIL The best soil for farm and gar- den crops is a mixture of clay and sand called loam. It is called a sandy loam or a clay loam depend- ing on whether there is more sand or more clay. Which type of loam do you think will retain moisture bet- ter? Why? Both sand and clay are formed by the breaking down of rocks, that is, they are of mineral origin. Humus is partly decayed vegetable matter from leaves, stubble, etc. Its pres- ence is necessary in good farming land because it helps a sandy soil to retain moisture and makes a clay soil more open and free to work, preventing its packing down too hard The rich prairie soils contain a large amount of humus, which has been formed by the decaying vege- tation. Farms which have been tilled a long time are apt to have their humus used up. It is very nec- essary for farmers to keep up the supply in their fields by applying barnyard manure or by plowing un- der green crops. * * * HOW WATER RISES IN THE SOIL Water rises in the soil just as the oil in a lamp rises through the wick. The wick is full of little' tubes called capillaries, and so is the soil, and the water rises through these. If a little kerosene or gasoline is put into a bottle and the bottle filled with soil, the oil will rise, and if lighted, will burn on the surface. When the water rises to the surface of the soil it evaporates. Evaporation from the soil is going on all the time when it is not rain- ing. The soil soon dries out if some- thing is not done to prevent it. Cov- ering the soil with a light mulch pre- vents evaporation. Cultivating cr loosening the surface of the soil soon after a rain serves the same purpose. Cultivating breaks the small tubes, so that they are unable to bring the water to the surface. A soil that contains much humus (that is, vegetable matter) catches and holds more water than one that contains but little humus. Such soil also holds moisture longer in dry weather. Plenty of barnyard manure applied to the soil helps to retain moisture, but chemical fertilizers are of little aid in retaining moisture, al- though valuable as feeders of plants. > The Junior Agriculturist A LITTLE PAPER ISSUED TWICE A MONTH FOR THE BOYS AND GIRLS OF CALIFORNIA t Agricul I-:. J. Wickson. D i> 4 Vol. 1 Berkeley, California, MARCH 18, 1911 No. 2 should be Bent to PEBBINS, Editor B< ri allt altural Education Division WHY PLANT THE GARDEN? Bef. :i had you not better con what you wish to do with the pro- duct? .Many uses may be made of the output from the gardens. ( l | iooI. (2) may be ' to your pai to help I or to are going to plan to give ' their Thai ed at • I lunch • invito to the fe the products in exhibits tor the output at not like tl g for the poor of your vicinity? ! airing |8 of hap; in those about you. smiles ai not only for your neighbor bill yourself, it might be grown 'is of child! aem all tertain In 191 only come but While 1915 Is soi &ke plan any way to lc • * * SPADING Many ehildr cultlvii spadii your front of I 1 the plot I ful of dir My. Thii ! in- top ! less SELECTION OF VEGETABLES This long rainy spell may have made many have the "blues" par- ticularly those gardeners interested in starting seeds who let the open days pass without seeding. However, let us smile about it and think how much good this water is going to do California as a whole. Selfishness is a bad plant to let grow within oneself. It is a good plan to look beyond oneself and see the other people, particularly the neighbors. Since the growing season is so short before the close of school we have prepared the following list for you so that you may select seeds that mature quickly. If you are go- ing to be at home during the sum- mer would it not be a good plan to take care of your garden? If so, you could plant almost anything that you desired. Possibly if your neigh- bor is going away you could care for his plot also. VEGETABLES Name When plant When mature BEETS Jan to May; Aug. to Nov., 3-4 mo. CABBAGE (early) Jan. to March, 5 to 7 months. CARROT Any time except July, Aug., 4-5 mo. SWEET CORN Mar.- June; Sept.-Oct., 2 months. CUCUMBER Mar.-June; Sept.-Oct., 2 1-3,- 2y2. LETTUCE Any time, 2 to 3 months. ONIONS Feb.-May; Aug.-Nov., 9-12 mo. PARSLEY Any time except July Aug., 2 mo. PARSNIP Any time except July-Aug. 8-10 mo. PEAS Anv time, 2 months PEPPERS May- July, 3 months. POTATO Feb.-May; Sept., 2 to 4 months. SPINACH Any time, 6 to 10 weeks. TOMATO Feb.-March, 3 to 4 months. TURNIP Any time except summer months, 2 to 4 months. RADISH Any time, V2 month. FLOWERS SWEET ALYSSUM Oct. and Nov., 3 to 4 months. CALENDULA Any time, 3 to 4 months. CALLIOSIS Oct.-May, 3 to 4 months. CANDY TUFT Oct.-May, 3 to 4 months. COSMOS Oct.-Jan. ; May-July CALIFORNIA POPPY October, 3 months. LARKSPUR October, 3 months. LINUM Fall, 3 months. MIGNONETTE Fall and winter, 2 to 3 months. NASTURTIUM Spring, 2 months. PANSY September and October, 3 to 4 mo. STOCKS September, 3 months. SWEET PEA Oct. -March, 3 to 6 months. ZINNIA Spring, 3 months. DAISY Any time except summer months, 3 months. FOUR O'CLOCKS Spring, 2 to 3 months. GAILLARDIA Any time except summer months, 4 months. PETUNIA Fall, 3 months SALVIA Fall, 3 months. SNAPDRAGON Fall or winter, 3 months. WALLFLOWER Fall, 3 months. VERBENA Fall and Spring, 4 to 5 months. * * * BE A UNIVERSITY PUPIL We wonder what the picture is that rises in your mind when one speaks to you of the Univrsity of California. Whatever your picture may be we want to tell you that the University is a great school. There are many fine buildings spreading over acres of gronud. There are more than 350 teachers and 2,200 students. It is a great honor to at- tend this school and to be one of its students. However, you cannot come now. There is much hard work a- head of you before that time arrives. But if you cannot come today we are anxious to bring something of Iniversity to you at < nt you to enroll a our iversity pupils to study B e with • pupil id this pa] 1 fill out the blank on child can but find ■in. ,000 l'ni\. It is small band Will you Dot do BO? you will not be i Drry for thei • 4* 4- * 4- * ***** * * 4. * .t. CHILDREN'S ARTICLES 4" 4- 4* 4- 4- ******** THE ICHNEUMON FLY ; pillar was crawl: ground in search of a re it could hide 11 ilia. But as it lv an Ichneum fly on the caterpillar .and then lav place. Wh. found B the littb Q *UCb a id be- ■rpillar U tiful bntt on fly MY, Nil • * * COTTONY-CUSHION SCALE tiled th. ion. er some found on but ing f 1 ■' * * * FLOWERFLY AND BEE 1 bee or Zl'L.V .MIN1CI. * * * GOOD CROPS Th- re exists all and : and humus, and 111 and colder. Good soil has al third 1 third of hunin : ing oi * • • trees until read all over the country. The farmers could not get rid of them. They sent over to Aus- tralia to find some way of getting rid of them. So the lady bird was brought over and that was the check for the cottany cushion scale. ANITA GLILIANELLI, Niles School. * * * ANIMALS AND INSECTS Coyotes and rabbits escape injury from their enemies by hiding in the deep grass where both animals being of a greyish color cannot be seen by their enemies and are left safe. Insects have different ways of es- caping from thier enemies. Some of them change to different forms so that birds flying over them do not meddle with them for fear of being harmed. Others are very bitter to the bird's taste and when they see certain insects they do not dare to touch them. Some insects that live on trees or leaves escape from being injured in sevral ways. The worm straightens himself out and the bird thinking it a branch leaves it alone. Green insects lay themselves on green leaves and cannot be noticed by an enemy. A brown insect places himself on a brown leaf and the bird does not notice him. ALLIE BERTOLOZZI, Niles School. * * * ANIMAL CHECKS We read in books or we learn from observation that every animal has its check in life. From the highest ani- mal on the globe, man, to some of the smallest living creatures, insects, we find that there is always some- thing to hinder them in their pro- gress in life. Insects check other in- sects, birds check other birds and so it goes on. The chicken devours an insect; the coyote devours a chick- en; the mountain lion devours the coyote. Man kills the lion, and man is checked in his life by disease and many other things. It is observed and known that death has a check on all animals. It was not very long ago that parts of California were troubled by the rabbit pest. Rabbits were every where, there was nothing to check them and they destroyed many ag- ricultural crops. The government took the bounty off the coyote and the result was surprising. The rab- bits which were known to multiply tremendously, began to diminish Rabbits did not trouble the inhabi- tants again. Take another illustration. Not very long ago, an American brought about a dozen lemon trees from Australia. These trees had an insect, the cot- tony cushion scale, which hindered the life of the tree. It was not very long, before these insects were on most every orange tree in California. Californians were puzzled. They knew that in Australia, where the cottony cushion scale lived, they had a very prosperous business in every respect. Some men were sent over by the United States government to find if they could, a check to the growth of the cottony cushion scales. They came back, bringing with them some lady birds, which they put on the or- ange trees. The result was magnifi- cient; the pests were checked by the lady bird and California became one of the leading orange sections of the world. Every animal has its check in life and to make agriculutre a profitable business ,you should know all the an- imal checks. EDWARD ELLSWORTH, Niles School. TO TEACHERS: Lessons in agri- culture are running in the Town and Country Journal, published at 1005 Market street, San Francisco * '•* * * * * * * * * * * * Please enroll my name to •$• receive the Junior Agricul- •*• turalist FREE. 4" Name *|* Address •{• Grade *|" Teachers Name •§• Teachers Address * * * * ******** University of Californl Agriculture Ex] The Junior Agriculturist A LITTLE PAPER ISSUED TWICE A MONTH FOR THE BOYS AND GIRLS OF CALIFORNIA n> 4> Vol. I lifornia, APRIL 1. L91 1 :t tO Itor lalif. i ultural Education Division Have you ever be< o In the Greek you ever It full of people? If you have it impossible to visit ■ pass. for hi I here this >le. of you t; is bui built in a circle. The 11 eucalyptus ad is ilrds. that Mr and. We w< In the I lis- Mai i : with tl ) be who had to do ri who • kindness, men their mom able. WE ALL LIKE H.- di \ men w and i la/.y to work. WE ALL DISLIKE seen m: it takes a l« Die such a man as Mr. must you have. TL he i! he will talk with ■ and he W^ You you b * ♦ » ful U one cent will do. * * * THE RELATION OF WATER TO SOIL Water reaches the soil in two ways, (1) by the rains, (2) by irriga- tion. The water which falls upon the soil and is pulled in by gravity is called gravitational water. If the land is level and has been plowed, that is, plowing around a hill rather than up and down. A better method is to plant trees. Each tree has a great mass of roots which acts as a tub to hold water. Besides, leaves fall to the ground soaking in the rain and preventing the soil from be- ing washed. The water company at Berkeley has planted hundreds of trees on the hills to conserve the water. —•rTRANifplR^TlO/SAL LOtftf fftOJLO&S* 1 1 'tifrowfMMTjJifrf evapor, ati orr- CAPli-UAR.V. WATER, &-ft,£W)TATlCV*AU WATETRj very little of this water runs off. It seeps through the soil, putting plant food in solution and carrying it to the roots of plants. Finally the downward progress of the water may be stopped by a bed of clay or hard pan, or it may be lost through a bed of gravel. The soil just above the hard pan layer becomes saturated or wet as does a sponge. When the rains stop and the sun comes out the water begins to climb back to the surface through the capillary tubes which most of you are familiar with. This is capillary water and is most used by the plants. The water climbs through soil just as the ink works up a blotter. If the water is not used by a plant and partly thrown off into the air it comes to the surface and is lost through evaporation. This loss may be prevented by breaking the capil- lary tubes, by making mulch, or by cultivating. (See picture.) This capillary water forms as a film around each soil crumb as your cap fits over your head. It follows that the more soil crumbs there are the more water there will be. There- fore the soil should be kept fine. Much of the water which falls as rain forms the "run off" which rushes to the ocean by way of the rivers, carrying the hills to the val- leys, and much of the valleys to the river beds and to the ocean. Floods are often due to the "run off." The run off may be partially prevented through contour plowing; iTATUf^ATEr MAR.O pA/^T- tf* During the summer it is cool and moist in the forest. The soil is full of moisture. The water seeps into the streams causing a steady flow of water or it bubbles out as a spring. Thus the streams run all summer. Without the trees the water would rush down the hills causing torrents in the rainy season only to dry up during the summer time. In regions of China and in our own country, once fertile region have be- come barren stretches of land due to the destruction of trees. Trees have been cut ruthlessly, and forest fires have destroyed thousands. How- ever, the government of the United States has come to realize the value of forests and laws have been pass- ed to set aside "forest reserves" and to prevent reckless and ignor- ant campers and lumbermen from de- stroying trees. If you want to help this great country of ours of which we are so proud, spare the trees and plant as many new ones as you can. * * * THINNING OUT Sometimes a careless boy or girl can cover up poor work in school but he or she cannot mislead Nature. Seeds that were sown carelessly by those who did not listen to instruc- tions or did not follow suggestions have published to all ere this some- thing of the character of the sower. We have seen some crooked rows, some rows too close together, some rows partly sowed, others with plants crowded together in bunches, but of all we have seen rows after which were planted just right. .Most of these rows are now ready to be thinned. At the first thinning the largest plants about one Inch apart If some portion of the If vacant, transplant the plants Ihiuueci out. Later the plants should n again to their final dis- tance. Thin as follows: Carrots 3 to 4 inches, lettuce (head) 6 to 8 Inches, onions, 3 to 4 inches, peas, 4 Inches, be< ts, 3 to 4 inches radish, :: inches, or thin as used. * • • HARD PAN AND IRRIGATION Hard pan is a layer of earth just below cultivation which is often im- penetrate hard pan. It is most abund- * is in summer, particularly late sum- mer. When abundant, irrigation may be of no value since waterdpes not penetrate hard pan. It is^ttwrabund- ant In clayey soils and when the Ir- rigating water contains much lime. As the water seeps into the soil the lime is carried with it and it cements the particles of clay to- r as the water is used or is lost through evaporation. To prevent the formation of hard pan the ground should be cultivated at different depths so as to contiun- ally break up the forming layers. Humus mixed in the soil will often as a preventive. PROBLEM QUESTIONS Experiment I Of what is soil composed? h iU an ordinary bottle one fourth full of garden soil. Add water until the bottle is n« arty full. Shake it thoroughly and set aside. Ot> 24 hours later. Experiment II In which is capillary rise of water 1. sand or clay? or the small ends of two lamp chimneys with cloth. Fill one with and the other with clay. Stand each in a shallow pan of water. Ob- serve results. The tubes should be a; !• ast 1 ! inch* s long. • » * MAKING THE ROWS I find that many of the young gardeners have difficulty in proper- ly laying out the rows of the plot. We all want to have the g:c look nice, as well as to have them planted right We may have the bed well pulv< rized and free from clods, but if the rows when planted are not straight, but crook- ed and zig zag, the appearam the garden will not be sat So you had better take a little time to plan out what you are goin ao, and how you are going to do it, before you sowing the seeds. Suppose you plan to ha rows in the garden. The first think' to do after you have the soil in good shape is to mark the garden at one end with seven equally spaced lines, so that you will have room for all and not crowd some rows while <>th- ers are very wide apart. Be sure to leave enough room between the rows for cultivating with the hoe Having determined the spa take the handle of the hoe or a piece of string and measure ance from the white stake to the (Lark where you have indicated the first row is to go. Tak<- that meas- ure to the opposite side of the gar- den and mark off an equal distance from the white stake on that side. Now lay the handle of the hoe so as to connect these two marks made and press down on it. You then have a straight line to guide you in making the furrow. Do the same thing with the second row, and the rest. You will find your lints not only e\e; ! d on the gat out they will be straight and parallel, and the appearance of your garden will be inert ased wonderfully. A. H. BAIRD, Student Tea< * * * NATIONAL FORESTS If you have read tie- preceding article you may wish to know more about the national for These are tracts of timber land set aside and controlled by ''><• astl ernment. Th< '0,000 acres of national forests in the ed States. The government does not lock up the usefulnesa of th«s<> acres but controls them wisely to prevent use- wiste of the trees. Trees of certain sizes are sold to lumbermen at reasonable prices. Cat- tle are al' Kraze *n th' ests. Each settler has an equal chance, no one man can forests for his own selfish use erally speaking, the forests the most useful to all the people rather than to a few. The government hires special watchmen to patrol the na forests to see (1) that forest DreS are not started, (2) to see that young trees are not cut for lumber, (3) to pi event over-grazing of stock, etc. * * * CULTIVATION Many of the gardens cannot be ir- rigated, so recourse to "dry farming" must be had. Dry farming means to keep the top soil open in order to catch the rain and then to conserve the water by means of a mulch. If you have forgotten the work of the mulch turn to other pages of the "Junior. " In making the mulch use the corner of a hoe to break up the soil several inches deep. Be careful not to disturb the plants. Those whose rows are far enough apart to receive the blade of a hoe will find the cultivation an easy matter. Cultivate often to hold the mulch and to keep out the weeds. A plot of weeds the size of an ordinary lot throws a great deal of moisture into the air in 24 hours. ►£• •£• •% »?« »?**f*4*4**I**I**2**f" 4- CHILDREN'S ARTICLES 4- * * •I* »|o »|« •£• •?« *£• »J« &!.. •£• *£• •£« Jt, OUR GERANIUMS The low seventh grade in the San Leandro grammar school has a room in the basement of that school, and it is there that we do all our agri- cultural experiments. In this room there are several ta- bles on which we have long boxes, filled with earth and planted with seeds. In two of the boxes we have planted geranium slips. First we sifted the dirt and then put sand on top of that, and then smoothed it over Afterwards we soaked it with water and put in the geraniums. One box of these cuttings grew, and had flowers, but we picked them off. The slips in the other box did not grow so well because we did not water them enough. As soon as the weather settles we are going to plant them around the school house. MILDRED MACEY, 106 Crark street. San Leandro. * * * HOW I DISTILLED WATER Mr. Stebbins, our teacher in agri- culture wanted some distilled water to try the experiment if seeds would grow as well in it as in drinking water. I was one of those selected to distill the water for the experiment. As I wanted a quantity, I took the teakettle and filled it nearly to the top and waited for it to boil. While waiting I washed the dishes I was going to use in warm water, to be sure they were clean. When the water was boiling I placed one of the bowls I had washed under the spout and held another one over it. As it was cold the steam condensed and ccllected in drops on the inside of Lie upper bowl. Soon it began to drip in the lower bowl. This was distilled water. When the upper bowl became hot it did not drop so fast, so I chang- ed for cold ones. It took me a long, long time to get a pint. JESSIE H. JONES, East 14th street, San Leandro. This is an original plan but an easier one might be devised. * * * TESTING SEEDS We tried an experiment by put ting damp cotton into two bottles. In one bottle we planted seeds and put a cover on the bottle to keep out the air. In the other bottle we plant- ed the seeds but did not put a cover on. We tried this to see which way the seeds would grow best, with air or with out the air. By trying this experiment we found out that the seeds grew better in the bottle with the air than in the bottle without. ALOUISE RAVEKES, San Leandro. Low Seventh Grade. This experiment teaches us that aii must circulate in the soil. This may be brought about by thorough culti- vation. Mr. Morse, the seed man of San Francisco, is going to help you ma- terially by furnishing many seeds free to those who plant school gar- dens. Write to us, since the seeds are in our care. * * •£• Please enroll my name to 4° •!• receive the Junior Agricul- 4* «!• turalist FREE. 4* * * •J* Name 4* * * •J* Address 4* * * •J* Grade •£• * 4- •J* Teachers Name 4* * * •J* Teachers Address 4^ * * ^* 4* 4* 4* •j-4,4,4,*2-4#4,4# University of California, College of Agriculture, Berkeley. Calif. Agricultuiv ,>nt Station, E. J. Wicks. lor \'<.l. 1 Berkeley, Californi t, APRIL 15, 1911 Commmnlcatlonfl should be sent to C. A. STEBBINS, Editor !'.< rkeley, Calif. Agricultural Education Division long ago a bank president and his dirt (tors were conducting a meet- a< Which a vacant position in the bank was to be filled. The name of a young man was proposed. "I t want him considered," said the president, "for I have seen him loit ring on the streets smoking ciga- rettes." Another applicant's name read. Again the president ob- ,. for this man he had seen en- ter offices in the city in an ungen- linally a man was who suited all concerned. Thus the Hrs1 two men lost oppor- se they forgot that the of husim ss men were upon ta< m. If fcr no other reason than this, >s you to remember that you are being watched by business men s by fri- nds. The Dusiness man wants the young man who is who does not have time to smoke cigarettes and to loiter about the streets, who a gentleman. The DU >er watching the boys who to make such men. The boy who (ices his work well, who acts "on the square," who tips his hat to girl and lady friends and his eld- on the way to a good position. some one is watching him. The business man knows that ver you do now, as a boy, you are pretty sure to do as a man so 0 now, as are >ur friends. * » * Daring the month of March of blind childr. n twice to teach tin in about our song birds 1 1 1 < 1 1 • . ■ 1 1 have a great « f joy shut out of tl Von would think it a peat hardship to have to be blindfolded one d. The fii>t day we told them ahont the habits of the birds showing them how orach value they are in help- ing to control the destructive in sects. The stuff* d skins of tin- I which many of you have seen, were then handled by the child! On the second day we all went out into, the fields. When a bird sang, the children were told its name were allowed to handle the sti skin of a similar bird. Thus they earned »!!<■ songs of eight difi our next visit, the child- ren will remember these bi jetter than you would. The next time your tooth aches ar something else goes wrong just chink of these blind childr. n and b<- ful that vein troubles are so "ii. * • • We wish to tell the Berkeley gar- deners that four banners have been irder. d. Two to be used as reu to the two grOnPl lur. iiiL- the ,ar.l< ns on the ('Diversity campus wo to go indi- . idual gardens. ED* li gS I deal n. the gardens will I I and the ill be Down in tli will remain tie re from day to day so Ion? as I gardens are tin- heat However, if -,n Si: other gai are judged the best, the baDDers it will DOl he work to manner but it will take work to keep The banners have arri the above Itten, Mr Haird's and I Mater's iiners for the firs' second best groups. For the best in- dividual garden banners were given to Joseph Hooker and Roscoe Scam- mon. * * * At the present writing, we think the gardens at the Niles school are the best. The boys have built a fence around the plot. The gardens are uniformly laid out, raised about three inches, and are producing a fine growth of vegetables. We are going to have a picture of the gar- dens in the "Junior" before long. Some day if a big auto-truck rolls up to your school filled with chil- dren, greet them as gardeners from Niles, for seventeen of them are plan ning to rent such a car so as to vis- it the other school gardens of Alame- da County. We like this idea. The children of Niles are "up-to-date." * * * The Decoto gardeners have made a large cardboard bird chart. Col- umns have been made for (1) the name of the bird, (2) when seen, (3) winter, permanent, or summer resi- dent, or transient, (4) where it nests, (5) kind of food, (6) protected or un- protected, (7) name of the pupil who sees the bird first, (8) time of arriv- al or leaving. Several "summer residents" have just arrived, (1) the russet-backed thrush, (2) the plain tit- mouse, (3) the chipping sparrow, (4) the black- headed grosbeak. We think the var- ied thrushes have gone north. * * * One class at San Lorenzo is putting in a lawn in front of the school house. The fifth grade chil- dren are growing flowers and ger- aniums to place about the building besides growing vegetables in their gardens. * * * We wish to correct an error which was made in the last number of the "Junior." In the article on "Hard Pan and Irrigation" two lines were interchanged and one left out. The article should read that "hard pan is MOST abundant in clayey soils." * * * If nothing happens the "California Junior Pins" will be ready for dis- tribution before long. They are go- ing to be given to you. * * * THE SEED A seed is an embryo plant pro- vided with food, usually, and a cover. The embryo sleeps within its cover until awakened by moisture. The moisture is necessary in order to carry food to the small plant.. We learned in the previous lesson that there is moisture in the soil so it follows that the first effort of the seed is to bury itself. Observe a seed closely and you may see that its shape is such that it may readily, with the help of winds and rains, work its way into the soil. Many seeds have mechanical arrangements which aid in burying them. Alfilaria seeds ha^e a screw-like ' attach- ment which helps them to work in- to the soil ana into your clothing. The fox-tail has seeds which pene- trate your clothes very readily. Birds nelp to bury seeds. Vvith the seed buried by nature or by man, the water enters a lit- tle opening in the seed called the micropyle. This moisture sets up action in the seed, sugar is made, and more water is drawn through the seed cover. The experiment which most of you have seen with the wal- nut shells taught you this. The cov- er which up to this time has been .lelpful to the seed is now a hin- drance and the seed tries to rid it- self of its coat. Finally, the cover splits and the little plant pushes its vvay,' a part upward to become the 3tem and leaves, a part downward to become the roots. The plumule oecomes the stem and leaves, the radicle becomes the roots. In order to form roots and leaves, food is necessary. The chick comes from the egg and runs about immed- iately to find its food. The little plant cannot do this so nature has placed its food close at hand, in the Jeed leaves, or cotyledons. In the 3ase of the bean the seed draws for a long time on the seed food, some- times until the plant is four or six inches high. By this time the roots have formed and have begun to draw upon the soil for mineral food, the eaves have begun using the air for food. The pansy seed has very lit- tle plant food for its embryo. The bean has a great deal. These facts tell us something about the depth to plant seeds. The small seed planted deep would not furnish the embryo enough food to help it to the sunlight. We know a general rule to use in planting seeds. It is, plant 'seeds as deep in the ground as three to five times their diameter. Seeds should always be planted deep enough to rest in moist soil, regard- less of the rule. We have seen children plant seeds in dry soil.' Since moisture is essential to plant growth, no results can, thus, be ob- tained. Large seeds may be hur- ried in g< rmination by soaking in water the night before planting. on. mi good n suits may be obtained by digging the row for the seeds, by filling with wat r, and after the lias si aked In, by sowing the in the trench. We hope that you have remera- •■i .is are grouped into I the number of their coty- For instance, monocotyle- dons are plants haying one cotyledon as corn; dicotyledons haw seed the bean; polyootyle- have many cotyledons, the QUESTIONS 1 What is a seed? 2 What awakens the seed? How does the seed bury itself? * How does the water first enter the seed? 5 What happens when water first • ntt is the seed? 6 What dees the seed try to do with its coat? 7 When is the food stored for the small plant? 8 v the rule for planting seeds? What determines this rule? How may germination be hurried? 1" How are plants grouped? Many of our gardeners will re- cognize that some of the material found in tin- last two milliners cf the "Junior" reviews the lessons given by the student teachers. This ing to help you to remem- ber what is taught you. •j* CHILDREN'S ARTICLES 4 f * • ]• .% .*« •£• ►•-•*- • ■ - *- v *V» »J- *«• HOW DEEP TO PLANT SEEDS 1 v< ry interesting for i have always planted my things so deep in the ground that uning up. I ha mow far to plant seeds. We had an < xperi- and quit.' far d >WU we plant- ed a set d and a little higher up an- other until we planted another seed lit place. The 01 8 in the right • • high now. The re still struggling to g to the light I remember one tin* I had some very I i< e seeds and I W< it out at d dug a great hrle and dropped them in. It is over a now and 1 have had nothing from my seeds. I have learned how far down to plant my seeds and the next time I shall know and d some flowers. I fa the rub- which is to plant tin- | 1 from three to fi dia- meter. WELL \ PARWBLL High 5th Grade. .land. • * • PLANTS NEED LIGHT To be sure that a plant n light, rimenl in our class room. \\V had | ii in a box. We put a I box over a box kept th- tight from' the p About two weeks after we too off to see what th.- result was plant had turned yellov that did not ha\e o\.r th, m w ,.,-,. green. This ei m nt show.-; that a plant needs light VERNA JBF "th Grade, Washii hool, Oakland » * * PLANTS NEED HEAT The plants need heat. if you plant some seeds in the shade th< n plant some in the sun w.il find that the one you pn the sun will tome up Brat We d this by planting some seeds in two cans. We put one away from mi and one in the sun. Tin oi.e in the sun Is lots larger than the other one. JAMES REED, A 5th Qr Oakland Possibly the presence of more had more to do with rapid growth than the difference in heat. This ex- periment hardly proves that heat the controlling factor alon< • • • A SEED A seed is an tiny plant surround- ed by food. It needs i> of air. m« and good pyle, cotyledons and em ! lowing how the seed net d< d air we tied some seeds i put tie m into a I we pot in the cork to shut out we took a glass put some and seed and did not out the air. The on< s we put into a glass have come up very . and the one we put in the not sprouted, so that showed thai a seed ne-ds air. This tells us that soil must be pre- pared so that seeds will get air. HOPE REIGNER, B 5th Grade. ' Oakland. * * * CAPILLARY TUBES The sand has very large capillary tubes and the water does not go up steadily. It goes up quickly for a little while and then it stops. The clay has very small capillary tubes and the water does not go up so quickly but it goes up slowly and surely. The way we experimented was to put two tubes into a glass of water, one small one to represent the clay capillary tubes, and one large one to represent the sand capillary tubes. The water climbed higher in the small tube. The humus which is decayed wood, leavesa nd roots of trees contains the plant food. WALTER VEWAIS A 5th Grade. Oakland. HOW * * * MADE A HOTBED In making a hotbed, first se- lect a good place where the sun will shine all day; then dig the ground five inches deep, and throw the dirt out; next fill in with fresh manure; next cover the manure with three inches of good sandy loam. Then take some boards and make a sort of an enclosure around it, one side being about one foot high, towards the east, and the other side about two feet in height. Cover it with a cloth for a few days then sow the seeds. The ground in the bed is warmed by the manure under the soil, the seeds and plants planted in this bed will grow rapidly, and in a short time will be ready to transplant. • MANUEL FAUSTINA San Leandro School. * * * MY GARDEN One corner of our school yard, about fifty feet long and thirty feet wide, has been set aside for our vegetable garden. Some cf the boys divided it into twenty-five garden plots, each eight feet long and five feet wide, with a path two feet wide on three sides. Each of us has chosen one of these plots for his own garden which we must dig, plant and take care of. We had just begun digging when the rain came and made us stop. I am going to plant radish, let- tuce, and peas in my garden. I know I shall enjoy taking care of it and watching the plants grow. When our plants are grown, we are going to exhibit them. JOSIE ANDERSON San Leandro School. * * * WHAT CULTIVATION WILL DO TO THE SOIL I am a pupil in the 'eighth grade of the Niles Grammar School and have found by experience in my own lit- tle garden that cultivation is very aeedful to the soil. All soil must be cultivated in some way. If it be a little garden, a hce or stick will do, and if a large farm, a cultiva- tor will be necessary. If it were aot for cultivation all the moisture would escape from the soil through the capillary tubes that are in the soil, and the sun would absorb it all. The capillary tubes are the little .paces in the soil. Cultivation prevents this because when the soil is cultivated, it breaks ill the capillary tubes in the soil. This prevents the water from es- caping. If the soil is not cultivated often enough, it will become very hard be- ause cf the evaporation of the wa- :er or moisture in the soil, and irri- ation will become necessary, or ;he plants and seeds will not grow. .Vhen you once irrigate, you will nave to keep it up, so it is by far the better plan to cultivate your land for it will save you the trou- ble of irrigating. ZULMERA DOMINICI Niles School. * * •J* Please enroll my name to •£■ •!• receive the Junior Agricul- 4* 4- turalist FREE. •$• 4* 4* 4- Teachers Name •?• 4- * •J* Teachers Address 4» * * •*• Grade 4« f . -fr •J* Name 4» * * •J* Address 4* -}• »!"• 4* 4* •2" *** *I* •"!"• "I* "l" "I* *!* University of California, College of Agriculture, Berkeley. I Agricultural Experiment Station, E. J. Wickson, Director The Junior Agriculturist A LITTLE PAPER ISSUED TWICE A MONTH FOR THE BOYS AND GIRLS OF CALIFORNIA i> ^ Vol. 1 Berkeley, California. MAY 20, i:»!l Communications Bhould be Bei C. A. STEBBINS, Editor B( rkeley, Calif. Agricultural Education Division It is only necessary to visit the 1 to determine what a town, what a community is. if the 1 yard and the school house v. are unattractive; if paper is scattered about, windows broken and everything points to careless- then we know what the com- munity is. for such a school is lik.' a big looking glass and reflects the life of the district. Thus the ne- 1 school advertises a careless communis The grocery man advertises his wares, the contents of his through window cards and newspa- pers. Bach individual has his way of not oi & the people what he may have to sell, but what he is as a man. Each boy and uiri indexes, or tells, to his or b r ins or her charm ter, by little 'signs" we have read "hung" out by our gardener* to re- port at 2.15 i>. in. Tl s and two girls have rep eral da.-s behind time B is first tunity slipped away. It is not to toll how, we all read n. The unive bildren t coming on the campus to wort they have been asked not to climb . but some sill do so. How shall we read th We do not liko to Bee bad sisns. so h t us turn to those which are more pleas- ing. We have *•■■ carefully laid out. well culUval «1. |n- tloua boys and girls. Wa bave Been boya careful to return tools and willing to let others use these tools in the gard< n. We ha and girls patiently working, Bi but little and accompliahini great deal. We hi a hit lifted to student t indexes, or Bi Not only do they tell boy is now, but what be is to be as a man. What signs are you I ing out by your .. speech, and by your work? • • • We hav. .1 a great many in teresting letters from our friends asking for the "Aroior many that it will be Impossible to send individual answers We want to thank you all. No doubt you will do your part and try to follow some of the suggestions the little paper brings to you our BUbscrlptiot] list Owing so rapidly | mit our re .:>• t<> those who have gardens at hot, tjool at tha beginning of term. In September. w< lifornla Junior gardeners who will ha as at will send the ".Junior" ami imiivi- to arrange fcr an exhibit, to show ■ children can do. Mr Morse man, has put up seeds expressly for ior gardeners. 1 will be sent free, as long last to those children who will gardens at school Thus you are furni a paper. a pin, and a lot of good times grow- ing the seeds. But, better than all, you become a member of a great university class that, collectively speaking, is going to help California to become a great state. Now is the time to begin to help if you do not wish to wait until Sep- tember. Thousands % of teachers from all over the United States are coming to San Francisco in July to attend the National Educational Asso- ciation. Hundreds of these teach- ers are interested in gardens. They are going to hold a meeting in Berkeley. Since these teachers are interested in children's gardens and in children, should not the California Junior gardeners entertain them? We are going to give them a big vege- table dinner. The vegetables are to be grown, prepared and served by our gardeners. Thus we shall want many vegetables for the dinner and many flowers for decora- tion. We are going to make the sweetpea the principle flower. Will you help us by starting a gar- den at home and by sending us many sweetpeas and vegetables for the dinner to be held about the tenth of July? If you wish to help, send your name and address telling what you can give. Sweetpeas may be obtained rather easily. Ask your mother to help you. * * * We have been fortunate the past few days in traveling with the South- ern Pacific railroad and the Uni- versity of California demonstration train. There are ten cars in the train and each car contains an exhibit and men and women to teach the people how to farm and how to live better. At- each town many people, including school chil- dren pass through the train. One car contains several hogs, another car- ries chickens, ducks etc. One shows cereals cf all kinds, another carries an exhibit which teaches the people not to use community drinking cup?, common towels, etc. It also points out the danger of the housefly, mos- quito, tse tse fly, etc., to the public health. The people are much inter- ested and get a great deal of help from the train. If you- have an opportunity, be sure and visit it. more about the work of the demon- Next term we are going to tell you stration train. * * * The gardeners should thank Mr. C. Runckel, of Niles, for making it possible to issue this little paper. Mission San Jose. Mr. C. A. Steb'bins, University of California,- Berkeley, Cal., Dear Sir: — Today we har- vested our third crop of radishes a* our school experimental garden. The "prize" radish was grown in the plot cultivated by Marinna Sezario and myself. We are sending it to you for comparision with those grown at other schools. We are raising twenty different kinds of vegetables and fifteen kinds of grain in our school plots and each of the pupils have been given seeds to take home. The home gardens are as good as those at school. We have learned much about rais- ing vegetables this year and are able to show our parents how to plant properly and how to save money by growing many things for the table. . Please come and visit our school. Yours Respectfully, DELPHINE FRATES. The "prize"radish is a wonder and too good to eat. It hangs in our office, labeled "The Best Radish Grown by California Junior Garden- ers." The Niles children have grown some almost as large. Next term each one will have to work hard, for competition will be close. Thank you for the invitation to visit you. We shall do so at the first opportunity. * * * Franklin School, E. Oakland, Cal. Professor Stebbins, Dear Sir: — We received "The Junior Agriculturalist" a few days ago and have found the articles in them very interesting. The pupils of our class are experi- menting in home gardening. Some of us are growing vegetables while others are raising flowers. We are all doing our very best to make this work a success, for it is very inter- esting and a pleasure to be among the plants and take care of them. This subject is comparatively new to most of us. Snap shots of ten of the best of these gardens will be taken by our teacher and if they turn out well, we shall send you the prints of them. We have not a school garden but hope to have one sometime in the future. Yours Respectfully, NELLIE MORRILL. 6 B. Grade We are very glad indeed, to have Inch good reports from the Frank- lin School. Do not fail to (the pictures. ♦ * ♦ HAT PLANTS NEED FOR FOOD Water and soil food are the chief part of a plant's diet -Manure make* soil rich; If you haven't this, buy it. Soil food and air food are what the s need and so it makes a good Deal of difference to a plant finds plenty of food, in its home or not, the ground should be broken in- to small enough pieces, for the roots, not being gimlets, find it hard to push their way through. So when real gardeners are making ready home* for the plants they dig the 0 that the roots will have B (inething nice to work in. When the soil is the result of the blending of several materials, it is called a loam, and the relative pro- portion of sand or clay produces what is known either as sandy loam. Or d by the Garden Director at which meeting all officers shall re port. ARTICLE XIII. Amendments can be made to this council, upon a week's notice, with approval of the Garden Director. If you read Article X you found certain privileges that come to you as a gardener. We have but 2000 pins and "first come first served ' in other words those who "join the first get the pins. Mr. C. C. Morse of the Morse Seed Company, San Francisco, has promised to Ista s^eds free for our big class of 3000 pupils. However, if you wish to start a garden at home you will have to buy your seeds. Seeds are given only for school gardens. THE VEGETABLE LUNCHEON You may have heard of our veg- etable luncheon at Hearst Hall. The vegetables were grown by our Berk- eley gardeners although many pota- toes and flowers came from Gardena. Three long tables were prettily dec- orated. At each plate were a menu card and a cornucopia made by the gardeners. In the cornucopias were beautiful sweetpeas. The menu cards were turnips, radishes, and carrots done in water colors by the Whittier School children. The room was dec- orated with potted ferns, palms and flowers. The children helped in the kitchen apd waited on the table. Twenty children from the Franklin School of Berkeley and four from San 1 dro furnished splendid orchestral music. Some 200 teachers were the gi of the gardeners and they all »-n- joyed the afternoon very much. This year we want to repeat the luncheon before the close of school. The best children's orch. itra will be asked to furnish music. The most original menu card design will be used. The luncheon this time will be for the gardeners themselves not for the teachers unless invited as special gutsts. So if you want to be with us grow an excellent gar- den. One of the best features of the luncheon was the way some of the chiluien h< Iped. Many gav<« tln'ir services in pr< paraiion but a few only staid to help "clean up." It is an easy matter to start but not so easy to finish. We like those boys and girls who "stay on the Job" un- til it is done. •£• .*• •$• .*« .'« ♦*« »|« *|* •£• *|« NOTES .[. »'. »|- »*..', »\ .*..]. .\ ,|. Mr. If. B. Hill formerly of Uplands, California, and now principal of the Ontario High School writes, Record of the Upland Schools in Gardening, school year 1910, 1911. No. pupils who had home gardens 149 No. pupils who did home gar- dening as a result of school gardens 83 No. of individual gardens at schools (about) 550 No. doz. radishes harvested, 1481 5 -1- heads of lettuce . 190 1-2 onions 17 1-2 carrots 81 3-4 beets 48 1-4 turnips 1 1 No. feet of lettuce 644 The statistics quoted above were reported by the children themselves; raised much more. Besides all this, we established school flower gardens, e. g. we plant- ed 4 doz. rose bushes and dozens of other shrubs and trees. We grew 2000 pansies, etc. At one time we had more than a dozen different kinds of flowers blooming in the school yards. During two years of agriculture work we have planted on our school grounds more than 100 trees, and we have transformed the school yard from a barren spot to a place of beauty. The children of the LeConte school Mr. Imrie principal, have an excel- lent set of gardens. We visited the Emerson School gar dens lately. Mr. Vergon, the princi- pal has an acre of ground in vege- tables and flowers. Later we will tell you what is taken from the plots. The children have corn about eight feet high, pole beans nearly twen- ty feet high and other plants in proportion. Some of the children in the Frank- lin School of Berkeley are going to start gardens at their school. The editor will be glad to hear from the gardeners at any time. Tell us what you are doing and the best letters will be published in the "Junior." The campus "Garden City" at Berkeley is to be open on Saturdays 9 — 12 and Wednesdays 2:15 — 4:30 for the boys and girls from 6 to 16 years of age. CHAPTER |. The Soil. Exercises All exercises should be performed at school or at home. 1. Place in a medium sized bottle a small amount of garden soil. Add water until the bottle is nearly filled. Shake well and set aside. 2. Examine closely samples of clay and sand. Roll each about and feel both. Note the size of the particles. 3. Secure a sample of garden soil. Note the pieces of decaying leaves and other vegetable matter. Heat over a flame a small tin of garden soil. Note the burning and the odor. 4. Obtain samples of sand, clay, and garden soil and expose them to the sun for an hour. Which is the warmest; the coldest? What Soil Is. Do you know what soil is? A great many children and a great many fathers and mothers think soil is merely "dirt". Dirt which can be washed from hands and faces and which seems so much in the way. But soil is more than this. It is filled with little plants and animals, and many wonderful things take place in the soil. It is a great fac- tory and store house where material is made and stored away. Look about you. Where did the iron anc lumber come from which built your desk? The soil. Where did the linen come from which makes the girls' dresses? It comes from the fiber of the flax plant that grows in the soil. From what is glass made? It is made of sand which is part of the soil. Ask your teacher to tell you how linen and glass are made. The soil furnishes all you need to make you comfortable and happy. Nearly everything about you came from the soil. Examine them and see if this is not true. You should know more about this soil which includes so much. Examine the bottle after completing Exercise 1. The largest and heaviest particles at the bottom are sand. The finest particles just above lying on the sand and floating in the water are clay. The little particles of leaves, twigs, etc., resting on the clay and floating on the surface of the water are humus. Thus soil as a cold dead thing is made of clay, sand and humus, but soil as we wish to know it contains more water, air, little plants and animals and their dead bodies. Estimate the relative amount of sand, humus, and clay. 80-100 percent sand means sandy soil. 60-80 percent sand means sandy loam 40-60 percent sand means loam. 20-40 percent sand means clayey loam 0-20 percent sand means clay. Characteristics of Sand, Clay and Hu- mus. The sand particles are the larg- er and they roll about more read- ily than do the clay particles. Sand contains little food for plants but it makes soil loose and open so that air and moisture may be ob- tained by plants. Sandy soils plow easily. Sand is heated readily by the sun as you learned through Exercise 4, hence it makes soils warm. Clay is made of very fine particles. When it is moist it helps to bind sand. Clay is a storehouse for plant food. It is, cold in temperature. Humus, which is decayed vegeta- ble matter resembles clay more near- ly than sand in size of particles, warmth, etc. Trees, flowers, and oth- er plants add humus to the soil. Hu- mus is very necessary. It holds1 sandy soils together and loosens soil containing a great deal of clay. Hu- mus is a food storehouse for plants. A brick chimney is made by pil- ing one brick upon one another. Na- ture piles sand particles and clay particles in such a way as to form "chimneys", or tubes, in the soil. The tubes made by the sand are larger than those built by the clay and the humus. The proper name for the soil funnels is capillary tubes. QUESTIONS 1. What is soil? 2. Which is the heaviest, sand, clay, or humus? 3. Why are foothill farms usually sandy? Why are there so much clay and humus in valley soil? 4. Of what use are clay, sand, and humus in soils? 5. What are capillary tubes? Are the capillary tubes smaller or larger in sand than in clay? / University of California, College of Agriculture, Berkeley, CalifirrUtfYJ VEhit Agricultural Experiment Station, E. J. Wickson, Director X^eu The Junior Agriculturist ^A LITTLE PAPER ISSUED TWICE A MONTH FOR THE JUNIOR GARDENERS OF CALIFORNIA Vol. 1. Berkeley, California. October L6, r.ui No. 7 Commuuications should be sent to C. A. STEBBINS. Editor Agricultural Education Division A Patriotic Garden kai.I'H L. BA1LJB1 . Tweattett Btreet Seawefli Lea \n-.i.- it the 20tn of April I spaded up irden and a few days later got it ready to plant seed and worked out my design, when my garden is finished I shall ' s^e star outlined in white Mowers and tilled in in blue with a large flower in the center. Bel Intl I will have first red, then white, then blue twice Prom the large to each of the points of the star I will extend strings and have red, white and blue running up tnene strings. Wallace Gray, whose paper you will And in the bunch, and 1 have a garden er ami lu- expects tc make a ■mall star and a crescent. are trying; t<» make a beautiful n of th»wers and by working to- DOt help but succeed. I have been reading some of the let- n this subject and am very much interested. First Hints \ i.iti: BR* K90VT, rwewtftetl Mrt-ti n,|,,h»I, Lea Anaele* first thing you do, if It is not good soil and hasn't been of, is to soak the ground well with water and get it ready for spad- ing. When you have it soak*, good, take a spade and spade the whole plot, Th.-n spray it thoroughly ;md when you are ready to n n mark it off. If you have any fertilizer handy you could put it on your garden and spade it under, you are ready to put your seeds In, ght and even grooves about half an inch deep. ng to the seed you intend planting. A School Garden vintii) \ \i (.11 \\. I"«nli«lli Mr.c| s,.|,„„l. I os \nKrlr» Our garden has a path going through .id.Ue of it. tias a In part of the garden to plant take care of. We were golnu to ■ lawn in part of the gardei couldn't, so it was divided Into and given t.. the eighth grade to • • • of the pupils have borooi flowers around their garden and some have figures made in flowers. The kindergarten has Its plot fixed up like a farm. At one end it has a little house with walks and I around it and a barn behind it. i hen it has the vegetables at one All through the garden there are walks dividing it into plots. v\ vi n;i{ <.i in itii. Twentieth stveel BeaaeL Lea interim Inst. I would like to till you about one of the foes of man and ho destroy it. The dlabrotlca is a I Which is sometimes m for a ladybird. It is a great I den, feeding on Another hi etle whi< times mistaken for a ladybird I striped he. -tic wi Icta Is fo and tomato vines. It is some called the squash bupr. The only I Is to pick them off by hand, or go out early ings with a can containing a little oil and shake them off the vine- ! BOB I \n I 'in. TvpeatlaU its sal |el ■ <>« 4a«afai Our garden has been a success be- cause of the work we children and teachers have put Into i rat had the ground and harrowed. The pupils then leveled it off and bu: the paths In the center high' off tl The ground was divided off and so much was glv each room. We sowed all t) it in grass, but the grass did not It took too much tlm*> to it grow well, so th*» lawn was dug up and all the ground given to our room We are t >iths and therefore should hav md I think we will. We have ne.i thin*? planted In our garden that yo | think of and hope some time to see you. Capillary Attraction The Properties of Soil Water BERTHA BRONDY, Twentieth Street Sehool, Los Angeles Water will rise through almost any I'orous substance as a wick, a sponge or the soil. The force which causes oil, or water, or any other liquid to rise through a porous substance, is called capillary attraction. The water in the soil is always at work. During rain, or whenever the surface soil is wetter than the soil be- low, the water passes down into the soil until it reaches a layer that it can not pass. After a rain, the water pene- trates into the soil. Then, when the sun comes out, it draws the water out of the soil and it evaporates into the air. The passing off of water from a wet surface into the air, is called evapora- tion. In dry weather water evaporates from the surface of the soil, and other water from below rises to take its place. In wet weather the water in the soil tends to move downward. If you take two bottles about the same size and fill one bottle up to the top, and leave the other one empty, then put a wick into the full bottle and extend it over into the other bottle, you will notice that the water passes through the wick from the full bottle into the empty one until there is an equal amount of water in both bottles. ALMA DILLARD, Los Angeles. Twentieth Street Sehool Soil water is a subject well worth discussing, so I will write some points about it. Soil water takes up and dissolves nearly every substance that we see in daily life, including air. Soil water is important because it contains the chief plant food and it acts as a carrier of all the other plant foods that come from the soil. Soil water contains many different gases, nitrogen, carbonic acid, oxygen. It causes iron to rust under water. The substance that is most abundant in water is lime. There is salt, a little potash, phosphoric acid, sulphuric acid, magnesia, iron, etc. Nitrogen is most- ly taken from humus by the plant. It is dissolved in the soil water in the form of saltpeter. The dissolving action of water is due to carbonic acid gas. Well water con- tains more solid matter than river water. Soil water is very different from rain water; it contains all the plant soil foods in solution. For the best growth of crops the water content of soil should be at about 50 to 60 per cent of the water capacity of the soil. How He Works By RAY WALLACE In my garden I intend to plant pota- toes, radishes, onions and carrots. The first thing I shall do will be to get the ground in good condition, and then I shall put my potatoes in. They should be about five inches in the ground, and as they grow I will hoe them. Some people, when they plant potatoes, hill them up the first thing, but I think they grow better if the ground is just level, and as the stalks grow up hoe them and then pull the dirt around them. If the cutworm bothers the potatoes I am going to experiment by putting lime on top of the ground in the morning. When I plant my radishes I will get my dirt real fine and then plant the seeds in rows about one inch deep and cover them over with fine dirt; but first I want to see that the seeds are not too thick, because when they grow up they will be in bunches and then they will not grow well. If you put the seeds half an inch apart they will be all right. You don't have to measure, but just guess at the distance. Your judgment ought to tell you how far apart to plant them. When I plant the onion seed the dirt ought to be fine, so when the sprouts come up they will not encounter any lumps. They ought to be planted about one inch deep and covered over with fine dirt. For my carrots I will have the soil in good condition and plant them about one inch and a half apart and one inch deep. Every night and morning they should be sprayed with water and the weeds kept down and the dirt loosened so as not to form a crust. an gardens, like clean citi< ii each citizen d share of the work. Not long ago, Mayor Wilson of Berkele) organized a paign for "Clean Berk Ml citizens were requested t'» see thai the Is were cleared away in front of their homes and on the vacant lots near them, and three days iside when this should be done. .\> a result of this effort, some parts oi the en mich more atl not hard to find places where the Citizens tailed to do their part \\ . more ashamed of these had looking -pot- than ever now, and perhaps s will he found to clean them. too. Have you heard how the boys and girls in New York city were 0 i/ed into Street cleaning vquads? Tiny did not do the heavy work ■ mg, hauling, etc., hut they made it their business to pick up every piece of paper, -tick of wood or refuse of any -ort and put it in • provided <>n all streets by the city. The result was wonderful, and everybody was proud of what the children did. If boys and j^irl > can do tin- for a city, why can not the Junior gardeners work together in the -aim Let US make our slogan **A Clean (iardni I points yon on the streel cleaning squad, yon should he glad to take a little time from your own garden for the sake of yoursell '-or- You can "pick up and -lick up." and we -hall all he prouder q rdeu C i t y . h seems that they nave a new law in Oregon which provides f'>r the division Of each county into several dtstrii h district will contain from schools. Then district supervisors of agrculture a: at a salary ranging fr«>m (100 to SJihi a month, plus traveling i This plan will make it possible to promote the teaching of agriculture in all tin- schools of the state Are you going to let California lag behind her little sister? Jusl say a word t<> father about this, for he can vote. K B B CHAPTER 2.— Water and Soil. Fig I . MM < isl* i arrange chimney ■ and tumblers .>wn in I-.t,'. _. DM ■: the chimn- if the same amount Into each at the same time of water through soils. Vlg. 3. Note the • ii of the water. ::. Ask your teacher to mak< :il fine Rlass capillary tubes. I these in colored water as shown in Fig. 4. Observe the action of the ter. 4 Hr.hi a cold saucer over the nose of ti tie. Observe the drops of r as they form. This Is ar rainfall. 5. Moisten samples of clay, sand ami garden soil (containing much humus), roll into balls and set aside to dry. Mix samples of clay and sand, lim« and clay, humus and clay, humus and Figure 3. sand, moisten and place to one side. Note the general appearance of the samples before and after mixing, before and after moistening. The Work of Water — You have learned that soil is more than "dirt," which gets in the way, and so water is more than something to drink. Let us see what the work of water is. In the oceans it beats upon the shore, breaking the rocks to form soil. The oceans swarm with animals which fur- nish us with food. Often the water seeps through the ocean bed, strikes hot rocks, forms steam and bursts the side of a mountain. Drop a little water on the hot stove and see how active the water becomes. On warm, clear days water evapor- ates from the oceans, strikes a cold Figure 4. current of air or a cold hillside or mountain side, becomes fog or a cloud, and is carried over the land and falls as rain. Then everything awakens. The farmer puts in seeds. The seeds send up the young plants and the country turns green and becomes alive with flowers. Water not only awakens the young plants, but it carries food to them. The wells are filled. The rivers rush toward the ocean through the valleys, bringing soil from the mount- ains to the ranches below. If you dip up a little water during the rainy season and set aside for a short time the water will evaporate, leaving soil which it has carried for miles from the mountains. Thus water helps to build mount- ains; it helps to make soil and carries it where it can be used best; it scatters and awakens seeds; it waters animals and plants and carries food for all. Without it there would be no life. Gravitational Water — A ball thrown into the air falls. The force of gravi- tation pulls it and all bodies toward the earth. The rain falls and sinks through the soil until it reaches a hard layer which it can not penetrate. This is called gravitational water. Gravitational water as it sinks carries some food to plants and awakens life in the soil. If the soil has not been plowed this water may not enter. It may run off to the creeks and be lost in the ocean, or it may run down a hillside, causing floods. What can be done to prevent the "run off"? Fig. 5. Plowing opens the surface and holds the water until it soaks in. On a hillside one should plow around,_ not up and down. This is called contour plowing. Each plant has a mass of roots, which is like a big sponge. Growing trees on the hillsides and protecting our forests will prevent the loss of gravi- tational water. (To be continued) s = University of California, College of Agriculture, Berkeley, California Agricultural Experiment Station, E. J. Wickson, Director The Junior Agriculturist A LITTLE PAPER ISSUED TWICE A MONTH FOR THE JUNIOR GARDENERS OF CALIFORNIA Vol. 1. Berkeley. California. October 30, liui No. 8 Insect Pests BAAL w. RJBID, Um \ugele«. Twentieth »»ireei School :\ one who grows plants and must liKht against the in- which destroy the plants. Boms i the leaves and some suck from the leaves. They also ipon the roots, and some bore Into ,,.,i .»r bark. Poisonous gases are used to kill all sorts of insects. For an example, take the peach worm, which injures tin- peaches in much the same s the codling moth does the tpple. It attacks also apricots and plums. In the fall the young worms mt.» the bark, choosing the crotches where the new brandies join i he older stems. The worm 11m i.uirow with a tube «>f silk, which sticks out. The tube is covered with tiny crumbs of hark. Most of the in- can be cheeked by spraying with lead arsenate or paris green. Mosquitoes Mii.mti-:n LBAHY, oh tnsrtlcs Twentieth street leheel Our class thought It might be inter- sting to write some letters telling of ur agriculture studies. 1 have chosen .. tell of the mosquitoes. A single mosquito lays from 300 to yga When she is ready to stop tying them she makes a little raft. turn from the egg into the larva, hen into the pupa, which igly looking creature; from this stage oil is merely '•dirt" — dirt which can -ass into a mosquito. There are many fathers and mothers think wo kinds of mo8quitos. one which allies malaria and the one which does Plant Pests >! Mill Kl.l MP, I .■» Ingeles. Twentieth Street School The foes of the plant may be dl ses — those which eat the which may be poisoned by Ing with parls green or lead arsenate; those which suck the juice killed by using a spray uching: those whlcl on t! ■ which may he killed by ned food left on the ground. Butterflies and moths, though help by carrying j •• harmful ay their eggs on the plant, and the young caterpillars on the lea -pliers eat the and seed of plants, and so ruii. plant. The beat kill goph. to put poison ■ and put may he killed by poisoned grit, alfalfa. Alfalfa is beat, heoause it is not eaten bj I The white By Is found on orang* lemon trees and does a great d. Ige to them. one way I is to hurn the leaves to which they have fastened, but a b< wash the | in many places this has been don. the fruit i Is much better a was a few | ears ago. Lady Birds iii:i.i:\i: i>\\ i*. Lou ilagslfs Twaattetl siren lekssl As I live in a different part of the «re d.. much of they are doing in ols of the north. As we study agriculture, ami it is my favorite study. 1 take pleasure In sending you a letter about m vorite subject. "The Lady Birds." The lady bird was first brought to this state from Australia It is the greatest friend <>f man because it on plant lice and the cottony cushion scale. Sometimes we see soft wormiiK that are feeding on plant but at a worms feeding on plants. It Is the larva of the lady bird, and later on It turns into lady birds and files away. Growing Flowers (.i:m:mi:\i: mm \ v Lea \nKele*. Twentieth ■treet s.-hool, \ Btgfctl «.rnde My partner, G ise, and I a garden together which is 2o long and U feet wide. The very first to the garden we n • ff our plou N*-xt we made our paths. Then i and slm arden an-1 I In%he middle of our plot we planted pai in the form of a "G" as both our m with a ■ • he edge <>■ path we transplanted a border of and chickens. We then plante.i rows of f. iots. We have quite *tlll In which to plant ' . ■ go out every day. and it is my turn to go out tomorrow, we will plant some flowers. Our garden will be all flowers. GARDEN CITY MAYOR MAKES APPEAL Juhl F. Gerdts, Garden To the mottiers and fathers who have children attending the Junior Gardens: I think this may interest you. I sup- pose your children have been telling you what a wonderful city we have. I think, in fact, it is one of the finest things that could happen for the school children. Some time ago we had an election of the officers who help con- duct the city-. As we have just started this move- ment, we have not yet got everything we want. We intend to make many im- provements. Among them we need first a bank, next a tool house, and several more things would be quite convenient. We want to make this movement both a pleasure and a profit to the children. Every child that attends the gardens has a plot. They all raise vegetables, and if they follow instructions there is no reason why each one should not make $5 during the term. City Mayor (Berkeley) Now, this is what we want to ask of you. If each parent will buy one dol- lar's worth of vegetables in advance from their children's gardens, we will be able to raise the amount of money needed. We can hardly ask the uni- versity for it, because they have do- nated us the land. So, if you are inter- ested in your children's gardening we wish you would help them and us at the same time. You are respectfully invited to attend at the hours on Wednesday from 2 o'clock until 4:30 and on Saturday from 9 until 12 o'clock and see how the garden city is carried on. "No vegetables will be sent out unless they are as good as those se- cured at the markets." The gardens are open to all children from the ages of 6 years to 16 years. All we ask is to think the matter over and attend our gardens, and I am sure you will help us in our work. An Experiment HARRY WALKER, Eighth Grade, Niles School. One day at our school in Niles Professor Stebbins, our agricultural teacher, gave us an experiment which goes to show that leaf capillaries carry nourishment to all parts of the plant. First, he took a small glass of water and nlaced a small amount of red ink in it. This was' to color the water red. Next he took a lily leaf which had a medium length stem and placed it in the glass of water. In a few days he cut the leaf into many parts and each part was slightly colored along the veins showing that the colored water was carried through the stem to parts of the leaf. m HAPTER 2.— Continued from last issue.) i. taught you thai ttonal wat.-r runs rapid ly through sand. Land with a sandy base should not '•• the water would run through it ami be lost. irater for Irrigation. Bj using a post digger |„|,li I! should br- below the surfai might happen? Hou might I •• over- flow tinually flowii pillary aklng with a hoe or rak< breaking up of the soli tonus a mulch Which pr- toll from esca] i rain ■ Dts without v :f the the v l»r> I iirintnu — ten the up what is called nn\s 1 . w 2. it ? Why is soil On a S8J to b . what Is capillary watet what kin,, are clods In a 8. How does rid of clods? what is n 10. How does ti make a dirt mul( 1 1. What Is i «.....! i ollow in gai IIomi. vii mi - 1 What far:, well I Which is a or with a trs st of a plow* A horse? i is the bet plowii u] or at th 1. How Ml tO for plowing at : H Communications should be sent to C. A. STEBBINS, Editor Agricultural Education Division GARDEN NOTES We visited the Emerson school gar- dens lately. Mr. Vergon, the pricipal, lias an acre of ground in vegetables and flowers. Later we will tell you what is taken from the plots. The children have corn about eight feet high, pole beans nearly 20 feet high and other plants in proportion. Some of the children in the Franklin school of Berkeley are going to start gardens at their school. The children of the Le Conte school, Mr. Imrie principal, have an excellent set of gardens. * * * Garden City and agricultural clubs have been formed at Niles, Decoto, San Leandro, the Washington and Frank- lin schools of Oakland, the Whittier school of Berkeley, the Social Settle- ment of San Francisco, and at other places which have not as yet reported. It might be a good plan to have each school a part of one big republic made up of gardening citizens from different schools with a governor and other officers of the republic. However, organize your own garden city first. The following officers were elected to govern the Berkeley Garden City: Mayor, Juhl Gerdts; commissioner of streets, Albert Becker. Later, as the gardens commence to produce, a market will be established at which flowers and vegetables will be sold. This will be followed by a bank which will be established on the grounds. Officers will be chosen from the citizens. We confidently expect to make $500 the first year from garden sales. It will be no small task to keep the books, but we are sure the officers can do it. Ninety per cent of the sales goes to the citizens and 10 per cent to the bank. This money will be used to buy more tools, seeds, etc. We need a toolhouse with room for a council chamber and the bank very badly. WThat can be done? See Mayor Gerdt's suggestion. * * » The Berkeley gardeners are trying out two irrigation plans: The "trench" system and the "check" plan. Nearly two acres of land are now under cul- tivation. » * * Miss Sellander of the Franklin school of Oakland could not find room for gardens at school, so she has donated her back yard. Could not find room, yet there are many vacant lots near the school overgrown with weeds, with owners too stingy to give boys and girls a good time. Read what Profes- sor Babcock said about one helping the other. When you grow up do not have a vacant lot overgrown with weeds, but use it or let some one else use it. You will enjoy life in proportion to the amount of enjoyment you give. * » * Tf you organize a club be sure and tell us what seeds you want and for how many children. Almost any vege- table may be planted now but beans, tomatoes and potatoes. * * # The school garden may be impossible for you, but the home garden is always possible. Later we will show you the pictures of some home gardens. We are going to give banners to the schools having the best gardens and banners to the children having the best home gardens. * * • Principal Vincent of the Niles school has started agricultural work again this term in the upper three grades. Last term he had the best gardens in the county of Alameda. Mr. Saunders, a student teacher of the university, visits Decoto once a week. Principal Runckel is giving his support. The children of the sixth grade are preparing their gardens. The children of the fourth grade at San Leandro, with the assistance of Mr. Walton, are arranging to not only grow plants in their gardens, but are going to beautifuy the school grounds. You could do nothing more worth while than to make your school home at- tractive. So many children are poor school housekeepers. Later the Junior will offer suggestions for beautifying the school yard. The Junior Call is helping you gar- deners, and those that are not garden- ing but will be, very much. Read it. Mr. Morse of the Morse Seed com- pany of San Francisco is always giv- ing you a lot of fun if you will accept it. He has presented the club with (lower and vegetable seeds. The following gardeners have re- ceived the banners for first, second and third best gardens during the last two weeks: First banner, Frank Peterson, twice; second banner, Helen Whitney; twice; third banner, Margaret Gloor. Exterminating the Rose Aphis BLANCHE KERSEY, IiOM Angeles. Twentieth Street School. A Eighth Grade Our teacher, Mrs. Larkey, thought perhaps the readers in the northern part of the state would like to know what we have been studying about in agriculture. We have spent a good deal of time learning about the plant foes and what can be done to destroy them. I have had quite a time trying to destroy the rose aphis, which is found on nearly all of our rose bushes. I have put ashes on the bushes in the evening and let the dew come down on them to form a paste; then wash it off the next day. This has helped some, but not as much as the sprays. These in- sects spread rapidly, as some of them have wings, so they can fly to other bushes. The scale is another thing we_have a hard time to get rid of. We have two orange and a lemon tree that were almost covered with the red scale. We destroyed a great deal of it by simply washing the trees with soap and water. We get much better fruit from them now than we did before. 1 GIFT University of California, College of Agriculture, Berkel rnia Agricui .riment Station, E. J. Wickson, Direr Thc| Junior Agriculturist A LITTLE PAPER ISSUED TWICE A MONTH FOR THE JUNIOR GARDENERS OF CALIFORNIA Vol. I. Berkeley, California, November 20, 1911 How We Laid Out Our Gardens HENRI M. HALE, "mi l.«-nnCx /^T&OV^ THEXf^ <*£5K>'PKM ♦ ♦-•-♦♦-♦♦ V< ♦♦»♦♦♦»»< EDITORIAL • In the last few days many vegetables have been sold at the Berkeley Garden City market. Several of our older citizens and many who have entered of late have become more ambitious since the two market after- noons. We can guess the reason easily. It is due to the silver dollars which have come to the gardens. We do not censure the citizens in their new interest, in their desire to obtain money. We all want it. We all need it; but let us be careful how we get the dollar, and, after it is ours, let us be careful how we use it. A brother and sister were talking to a man who was selling vege- tables in an Oakland free market. "Brother bought 20 cents' worth of groceries yesterday," said the sister, "and the clerk gave him back 80 cents, which he kept. The clerk thought the 50 cent piece which brother gave him was a dollar." "Well, your brother will be a business man," said the vegetable clerk. We are afraid such a boy will be a crooked business man if he gets money in such a way. Anything that we obtain which we have not earned is not got "on the square," whether it be a dollar or an arithmetic problem. Make the vegetables worth the price; give too large rather than too small a measure. The citizen who works faithfully and gives good weight earns, and so deserves, his dollar. It is right to recognize his labor, but now what is the dollar to do? It might buy a pair of skates for himself or for his sister. It might buy him candy and gum for himself, or a present for mother. Well, what do you think it ought to do? Here is what we ought to remember: First, to be sure that the dollar is earned "squarely"; and, second, that it does good work in giving some pleasure to ourselves, but more to our best friends. GARDEN NOTES .ing clubi The l nrollmeht are: Tl ! sch / Cai . i ton. llM'tll- . Yolo G ship l v » * * \V. .1 in n. I that Jin] lasl ind and dirt iin in • | le historic a I The living no litt: fr< 'i"n plj as much a labor of loi -try. * * » In response to In vital tendent ; E. If. i lelted the of the Franklin school last week and wore loml in their pr;< application to the study of seeds ;ml soils. * * * An interesting feature of the Klm- hurst ichool is a tin can garden which has been organh lea Coulter, in these cans, which will he kept in the schoolroom, the hoys an 1 gtrll will plant flowers, and they are ! forward to making their room the p tiest one in school. * * * regular gardening meeting lening ■ • ilifutnia hall 1 ml the attendance o! mot here an I ally large. The B< i keley rdenlng association is growing rap- planning to do all in irther the gardening m ■ * * * clubs of the Le Conte, the Lincoln ami the Franklin BChS Of held III- • which the members expresse ' selves as anxious to co-f tly. * ♦ » Mar' a the unlverslt fornla g and t # # * ond. ght A New Junior Heard From i:\ \ « I am very much in' n the . mre Department • Howei black '1 h. I. Al- all the beSJtt have con mine; it I le and they p the cork out. Domestic Animals row \:ti) i:i i vw ..it i ii. Hi! Grade, EfOee Id i. in it. If the livestock in it are poor, that nation cannot farmer must also h »n his farm. BtS to prosper. Slowly, degree by del we develop the possibilities of to; imal.s art OUt them, we won plowing and harrowing orchi i Animals are used for milk, so 1 goats. Without milk. her things. Cat or milk? r pleasure, as • mobl find a more k of riding than behind ■ are used for food. Beef. most male are also 1 not an animal In the nnivers. that Is not used for used for food by can- ; may go to Europe, Asia intrles; In them you will I Iff* rent animals, but all working for the same . iced. CHAPTER III An Ideal Soil or Seed Bed Exam ne the balls of earth prepared in Chapter 2. Of the three made of sana, humus and clay, which has the greatest power of holding its particles together": Which would be the most liable to bake? To puddle? What ef- fect did the humus and clay have on the sand? What effect did the sand have on the humus and clay? What effect did the lime have on the clay? Sand — We have learned that sand is hea\y in weight, but lifeat to plow; that the particles are large, admitting much a r; that it is warm in tempera- ture; that water runs through it rap- idly and does not climb back very far, and that it loosens clay. Clay — We have learned that clay is heavy to plow; that the particles are small; that it is cold; that water runs through it slowly and climbs back many feet; that it holds water well; that it contains plant food; that it binds sand together, and that it packs and puddles when alone. Humus — We have learned that hu- mus binds sand particles and loosens clay particles; that it is cold; that it contains ' plant food; that it holds water. An Ideal Soil — Knowing these things about sand, clay and humus, let us see what an ideal soil should be and how it can be made. Soil a Reservoir for Water — Clay and humus hold water best. Most of the soil water comes from rain which does not fall regularly, so an ideal soil must receive and hold water to supply the plants during dry weather. Usually there is enough clay in soil. Humus may be added by stirring in dry cow's manure or horse manure. Sometimes clovers are grown and plowed under. Soil Must Be Warm — Soil which is too clayey in nature not only packs, but is too cold for plant growth. Such a soil is loosened and made warm by adding sand. Soil Must Be Porous — Clayey soils are loosened by adding humus and sand. A sandy soil is too porous and dries out too quickly. Humus absorbs and holds moisture and thus would improve it. Soil Must Contain Plant Food — A sandy soil contains little food, as you will learn later. Humus added to such a soil improves it. An Ideal Soil — An ideal soil should contain enough clay and humus to hold water and to lead it toward the surface. It should contain enough hu- mus and clay to furnish food for plants. There should be enough sand to make the soil porous and warm, and finally, as you will learn, such a soil must contain minute plants — bacteria. Good Soil Necessary for Plant Growth — Before starting your garden at school or at home, examine the soil to see if it needs treatment. If plants are growing well near or in the soil where the garden is to be, it probably will not need especial care. Questions 1. What change is made in a clayey soil when sand is added? 2. How would you improve a sandy soil? 3. How would you add plant food to a clayey soil? 4. What is the need of air and water in soil? 5. How might humus be added to soil? 6. How does the farmer work adobe, or clayey soil i 7. Name a method used by the farm- er to loosen clayey soil without adding sand. Home Studies. 1. What is the average rainfall of your d. strict? Is irrigation necessary? 2. Observe young plants in the morn- ing. Where does the moisture come from? What is dew? 3. Is there any way to prevent loss of water through "transpiration"? What effect have weeds on soil mois- ture? 4. Find out how much water is lost by an acre of corn or wheat. 5. Make a collection of soils found in the neighborhood. Make a physical analysis of each (see Chapter I, exer- cise 1). Note the plants growing in each different kind of soil. Make a list of plants best suited to sandy soil; to clayey soil. 6. Would dry soil make brick? 7. Notice the difference in color be- tween hillside and valley land. Why is this? 8. What has been done by the farm- ers in your vicinity to make an ideal soil? The Cottony Cushion Scale FLORA LANFRI, Eighth Grade, Niles School. Once upon a time, there came into California, some small, smooth, white insects called the cottony cushion scales. These insects stayed on lemon and orange trees and had come over from Australia. The growth of these insects spread so fast that all these lemon and orange trees had begun to die. When the people of California saw all these trees in such a bad condition, they wondered what could have hap- pened them, so later they found out that it was the cottony cushion seal13 that had snread so fast. Now they wondered how they could get rid of them, so some one went over to Aus- tralia to get sc^ie other insect, which was its check. So they found out that an insect, called the lady bird, was its check. They got these lady birds into California, and at last, they got rid of these cottonv cushion scales. An Experiment I Tried JOHN GRANT, East Oakland. Franklin school. Fifth A Grade. I took a bottle of red ink and a yellowish rose and put the rose in the ink to see what would happen. In a little while the veins of the rose petals became red. Then I took a white chrysanthemum to do the same with. It made a better looking flower. It was osmosis that drew the ink up into the petals. Communications should be sent to C. A. STEBBINS, Editor Agricultural Education Division UN University of California, College of Agriculture, Berfc^}ey>^ Agricultural Experiment Station, E. J. Wiekso THc(Junior Agriculturist A LITTLE PAPER ISSUED TWICE A MONTH FOR THE JUNIOR GARDENERS OF CALIFORNIA Vol.1. Hkrkeley. CALIFORNIA. December 20, liui No. l<> Growing Contest Junior gardeners, would you like to earn a good prize and become famous l' red to the schools and to indi- viduals that grow the best sweel rhere isn't a boy «>r j^irl in I h Of course, all can not win pi who think most will. We want you tp start at once after read- ing the following notes ; First— In order to enter the contest as an individual, you mutt be a California Junior gardener. It is only necessary to -end your nam* Stebbins, Berkeley, asking to become a member of our large class, if you are not already enrolled. Schools that contest must be organized as a California Junior club. Write for information to the agricultural education division, Univi alifornia. Second — Contestants must have no direct assistance in planting the seeds or caring for the plants further than that obtained from suggest by friends or from reading. Each contestant must do all of the work in growing the >weet peas. Third— Scoring percentages will be announced soon, with a list of the pri Fourth— On these pages you will find instructions for sweet pea culture. Fifth — Remember: 1. To buy good seed. 2. That "well begun is half done." Make the seed bed ideal. 3. To ask questions of florists, garden. 4. To read books on the growing of sweet peas. bat pri/e- will probably be awarded on the 20 best sprays of I peas, not on a great number. 6. That it will be fun to join this big game and show the other chil- dren what you can do. Sixth — Do not wait to know ju^t what the prizes are. They will surprise you. Commence studying at once. A package of six varieties of the best sweet peas for schools: 1. King Edward VII; red 2. Dorothy Eckford; white. 3. Prima Donna; pink. 4. Lady Grisel Hamilton; lavender. 5. Miss Willmott; orange pink 6. Hon Mrs. K Ken yon; prim 7. The Countess Spencer; giant pink. j] 11 5 cent packages, or six for 25 cents. OJMG- THEZ. T^uq-t. EDITORIAL DO NOT BE A "QUITTER" After Lincoln had delivered one of his best speeches, a friend hurried to him and said: "Mr. Lincoln, how could you make such a fine speech?" "Why shouldn't this speech be a good one?" said Mr. Lincoln. "I was 17 years in preparing it." For 17 yeart, Lincoln never lost courage, never gave up his purpose to write and to deliver his great Gettysburg address. We are sure that you are all acquainted with General Grant, the man who, during the civil war, never gave up. Where would we loyal Americans be today if Washington had given up to the British? With his best friends turning against him and suffering with his small band of faithful followers during the terrible winter at Valley Forge, Washington still clung to his purpose, that of freeing the colonies. He had set his mind to this purpose, and he would not "quit." We admire a man or a woman who does not quit. We admire a boy or a girl who does not quit. There were two or three "quitters" at the vegetable luncheon held in Hearst hall. Berkeley, the last summer — children who started their work, but who did not finish. But we are glad to say there were many who stayed until all the hard work was done. Do not be a "quitter." Do not start anything that you can not or will not finish. If you start a garden, do not give up if things go wrong. Keep at it. If you are elected as an officer of the gardens, or are only a citizen worker, do your share, even if matters do not suit you entirely. We are sorry, but we shall have to call the boys and girls who are easily discouraged "quitters." Are you a "stayer" ©r a "quitter"? * * * * Many of the gardeners at the Berkeley Garden City forgot to put their tools away. We are thinking seriously of fining each boy and each girl 1 cent who forgets twice. Some one has the tools to put away. Who shall it be, the boy or girl who uses them or the teacher who gives you the privilege of their use? CIIAITKK IX Hen to <.m\> the «»*>eet Pea The sweet pea Is the meal beautiful nd fragrant of flowers. It lends grace to every occasion. There Is no flower bleb responds more readily to « ful treatment. Your garden is not complete without sweet peas. lis plant. all other plants, us.- all the Informs" Eon that you bave gained and that .•. n obtain in plant cult . 1'rcparatb.ii ol I In lead Bed a plat which is partly shaded during lay and winch has a background, Inch as a fence, shrubbery, ■ shed lid be oblong in shape, about wide and M • Sunlight will hav.- its beet I DOrtb and sniuh. In the fail work well rotted barn mure and bone meal deep in >il. If you desire extra tin.- ll... : at bast two blade length! in depth. This may b»- doi follows: «i> i>ig a hole at one end of the plat the depth of one spade blade. ml tWO feet long; < I » ca | " this sr.il to the other ei >r the ■ubaoll thus uncovered another spade (4) throw the following two Of surface soil on the subsoil which was spaded; (5) break up the newly • d subsoil, cover with the follOW- 1 and continue the process. Pill the hole at the end of the plat with the dirt which was first moved. If you do not desire the best flowers. use the trench method of spading. Be to run the spade straight in t s>ii. Add a fertilizer as suggested M.ninu tbe Seed — Sweet peas like a bleb is not too light or too warm. -eeds do best if they are planted in November and December, although mg time may continue into May. If the rains have not softened the sed seed bed, the ground must be thoroughly sprinkled two or three day* before working. Alter making a careful selection of from a seedman's catalogue, soak after receiving 24 hours before sowing. Dig a trench about five il deep and sow the seeds about one inch ■pari Cover with one inch of dirt, the soil carefully and leave the rest of the trench open. rnre «f the Faeasej Plaata — As the I plants come up, thin them to about one foot apart. The plants will not produce beautiful flowers if they mwded. Add soil about the young plants gradually, until the trench Is filled. When the plants are large enough, furnish them with something to climb upon. This may be twigs stuck in the ground, a string frame, or a wire net- ting. The frame should be at least five feet high. After eac rain or irrigation w hose, cultivate the soil with a 1 Cul- tivate whenever a >n the surfa soil. much water. It is much dig a t : • nd irrlga than to sprinkle At this stage of growth. tion. i lire at i in- Maeeaoag ivri.ui brilliancy ami pen.d upon healthy growth, due to ndltlons and i t this liquid to six gallons of \\ close to thi • **k. Irri- urst with pin k the blossoms regulatl> Do DOl lei them go to seed. Long spray- as* bowls make an play. such as tin ■pldei and then with the hose treatment will wash off visitors. If the red spld< come too numerous, spray with whale oil soap or "back root," a tol preparation off many of I buds before they open, the food I may | thus the plant may be ma ■ fine flowers. ■weal Pea I altars in rwta, ete. — Pro- cure a few three lacb pots and All nearly to the top with soil mix follows: one-third leaf mold, one-third one-third loam, and a little meal. Plant three seeds one inch Keep the soil moist, but not M In the spring transplant wherever you please. Sweet peas will do well in tin cans, paper pots, window boxes. • Kinds of lwe«4 Peas sweet peas into four classes: flowering. (2) dwarf, (3) grandiflora. The early flowering class blossoms in about three months after see. Planted early In September, blossoms at Thanksgiving and Christ- mas. Dwarf sweet peas grow about eight imhes high and spread wldel ground. Rows planted a foot apart will become one mass of green foliage and brilliant colors. This type makes an excellent border. The grandiflora is the ordinary sweet pea which is so well known. The seeds of tills class are quite inexpensive. Gardeners who know prefer the Spen- cer sweet peas because of the rich tj the size and beauty of the blos- long sprays, the long bloom- ing period. Sweet Pea Culture" is a little book- let issued free by C. C. Morse & Co., 4S Jackson street. San Francisco. Send for it, tot it will help you to select the best variety of seeds to plant. If you write to Mr. Morse, Junior gardeners, thank him for the seeds which he has given you through the university. GARDEN NOTES A California Junior Gardening club has been started in the Garfield school, Oakland. There are 39 members. Miss U Phillips, the teacher, will be in charge. Miss B. Langenour has organized a club of 25 in Woodland. Mary Thornton, age 13, is the newly elected secretary of a Palo Alto club. Leland McConnell. age 13, is the sec- retary of a club of 20 members, organ- ized by Ruth Kellogg, in the San Joaquin district, Sacramento county. The Las Lomitas district, San Mateo cojnty, Miss E. A. Wilkins, teacher, has organized with 25 children. Gladys Lightbody was elected secretary. The Fillmore district, Yolo county, M ss Julia Bray, teacher, numbers 22 boys and girls, with Mary Kampke sec- retary. Mr. Abbott of the Armona district, Kings county, starts with more than 50 gardeners, Alice Hitchcock, secre- ta ry. "We hope to hear from these club members from time to time. Pictures of the gardens sent to the editor will be published. Each member of our big class wants to see and to know what the other is doing. There is not a schoolroom in California large enough to hold our class, and soon even the Greek theater at Berkeley would not hold it. * * * Are you reading and studying the garden lessons? Later we may ask your teachers to give you a written lesson, and prizes may be given for the best answers. If you can answer the questions at the end of the lessons you may win one of the prizes. We hope that you are performing the exerc ses suggested in each lesson. * * * Thp first mothers' market day at the Berkeley garden city netted about ?5. Radishes and turnips were the main productions. We feel the need of our bank at once. It will be es- tablished soon. We visited the Franklin school gar- dens of Oakland last week. They are the best gardens that we have seen lately. The secretary of the club and her iriend have a home garden worth while. By the way, have you a home garden? Would not sweet peas look well on that unattractive fence? Would not a few flowers add to the yard? There are thousands of children in California. If each would help to beautify the home just a little, so much good would be done. More than 50 mothers and fathers visited the gardens of the Californ.a garden city on the state university campus last Saturday, the occasion be- ing the first market day of the season. There was a fine display of lettuce, radishes, Swedish turnips and greens, and, taking into consideration the fact; that the gardens have only been under way about six weeks, the proceeds, which amounted to about $5, were most encouraging. Beginning with last week the garden city from now on will hold one day apart, which shall be known as "moth- ers' day," when the parents will be at liberty to vis t the market and pur- chase their supplies from their own boys and girls. Ninety per cent of the money thus obtained will be given the children, while the remaining 10 per cent will be placed in the garden city To Grow Flowers Dorothy Dow, Junior Gardening Club, Durum School We were a long time in starting our garden because we could not get the seeds. When at last they came the boys dug the ground up and divided it into plats, while some of the girls divided the seeds into packages for the differ- ent children. As Mr. Dunbar, the principal of our school, was kind enough to give us the land, yesterday after school we went down to plant our seeds. Everybody was very much excited, and it looks very nice. In my garden I planted sweetpeas, cosmos, carrots and parsley. When we get some more seeds I am going to plant poppies and pansies. An Experiment to Show Osmosis EUNICE PONES, Oakland. Franklin School, A Fifth Grade. This week we learned a new word. It is "osmosis." This is how we learned the meaning of it: The teacher took two dried lima bean seed coats and put a few sugar crystals in them. Then she filled a glass three-fourths full of water. She then put one of the coats on a dry glass slide and put the other i in the water to float. The results were, the sugar remained dry in the coat on the slide and in the other one it melted. This shows that the water enters the seed by osmosis through the pores of the coat as well as through the mi- cropyle. Communications should be sent to C. A. STEBBINS, Editor Agricultural Education Division GIFT University of California, College of Agriculture, Berkeley, Californii Agricultural Experiment Station, E. J. Wickson, Direr Application for Second-class mailing rate pending. TEc^eJunior Agriculturist A LITTLE PAPER ISSUED TWICE A MONTH FOR THE JUNIOR GARDENERS OF CALIFORNIA Vol I. I Mo. 11 SWEET PEA CONTEST Id you like to earn a good pn r girl in I ,i. We i ing the following n I — In on!- i j- the con '■ be l •rnia •• ui m r, it is only n< Stebbina, I if the larK« tdy enroll, d, school | shall be a California Junior i to the agr division. [Jnl- • la. Itanta shall have no I n planting the seeds or caring for the plants further : iends or from reading. do all of the work in growing I • peaa He shall ke<-i ting the folio ' in ted ;> i nting; (3) details of planting, , depth of sowing seeds, distance apart, « tung plants are first s» iraw- Ings of the young I the ngs, cultivation, irrigation, etc.; (7) time -ming; (8) the nature of your teacher or another friend who knows of your garden. This diary in a legible form that] be ten! in with the N peas entered. Third — Prizes will be awarded fro::. For nun >W«ra t.> st.m (f i ■ length of st.m (approximately If inche • ■* : For size of Mo. m — ap: )th of standard. 1 . .... 4 a ill tin-i Inatructlona for sw •■ 'Ph.- Junior fail of Dactan Icaltarlal and Country Journal December l§. Fifth— Remember: 1. To buy go •d ideal. 3. To aa "us ..f fl< I, 'I'-, read booka on the growing of sweet p( 5. That prizes will probably be aw the 20 best sprays of t peas, not on a great number. 0. That it will be fun to join this big ga ■ how the other chil- dren what you can do. Sixth — The prizes are as follows: First prize for the best 20 sprays grown by a California Junior Gardening club $10.00 Second prize 5-00 Third prize 2.50 First prize for the best 20 sprays grown by an individual California Junior Gardener $10.00 Second prize, a set of gardening tools 5.00 Third prize 2.50 The next 15 prize winners 1.00 eacli Seventh — One or more of the following varieties must be grown: 1. King Edward VII; red. 2. Dorothy Eckford; white. 2. Prima Donna; pink. 4. Lauy Grisel Hamilton; lavender. o. Miss "Willmott; orange pink. 6. Hon. Mrs. E. Kenyon; primrose. 7. The Countess Spencer; giant pink. These are all 5 cent packages, or seven for 25 cents. We do not furnish the seeds. Eighth — The awards will be made at an exhibit to be held in Hearst hall, University of California, the latter part of May. Announcement will be made at the proper time as to methods of seriding in the flowers and the date. In order to have the peas blooming the latter part of May or the first of June, all seeds should be in by the middle of January or the first of February. This suggestion should be followed all over the state. Plant your seeds now. Since the awards are to be made on 20 sprays, enough flowers may be grown on a very few plants in boxes or pots', inside or outside. Flowers grown in hothouses are not eligible. Plant a few seeds every two weeks for four plantings, so as to be sure that blossoms are ready at the right time. Ninth — After the exhibit the flowers will be sold: (1) To help pay the expenses of the exhibit and vegetable luncheon; (2) to further the Junior gardening work. The following institutions have donated prizes: The San Francisco Call, the Morse Seed company, San Francisco; the California Seed company, San Francisco, and the Germain Seed company, Los Angeles. EDITORIAL What best thing have you done this month, this week, today? Do you know the great difference between a man of success and a man of failure? One sees and does the best things as a boy, the other wastes his time on matters that do not count. It is a small accomplishment to grow a radish, to have a garden, but it is a feat to be proud of to grow the best radish, to have the best garden. After all, so many are lagging behind that it is quite easy to be the best in some ways, if not in all. Just think a little more and work a little harder, and the best garden is yours. If you are asked to clean a path, clean it well; if you drive a stake, drive it straight. Whatever task is set you, do your best. We feel quite sure that the Junior gardener who is conscientious, thinks most and works> hardest, and who therefore grows the best radish, is going to make the best man, for he will ever be dissatisfied with any- thing not the best. He will not only do his best, but will look for the best. He will read the best books, he will look at the best pictures, he will select good companions. Such a boy will make the man that he wishes to be. If a girl wishes to be a good woman she must do these things, too. Boys and girls, it is the good man and the good woman that do most and that are loved most. Two years ago in May, during the graduati- -es held in the . Berkeley, President Wheeler announced to the thousands sembled that be wished to gram honorary diploma of the hr>t daSS of the university. As ear we are waiting to be put <.n the newsj mailing # ♦ ♦ \v. should be planted b iry first at t'n ; lunlor Call" of ms In growing sweet pea 8. ♦ ♦ ♦ Do : i t«. start such fl as pansles, stocks, daisies, etc. In summer flowers. should be nmk: luring this wet weati ly spring planting. Th*' yard should m the itlflcatlon of School • Is?" GARDEN LESSONS CHAPTER IV The Seed and It» Needs* Exercise* The exercises of this lesson should be started several days before studying t he chapter. First — Arrange two plates, blotters and seeds as shown in the picture. .Moisten the blotters as needed. Use ^^5®i55?- —First Exercise, beans, corn, radish, wheat. Examine the seeds daily. Second — Fill a tumbler half full of boiled water. Drop in a few beans (Windsor beans if you can get them). Note the bubbles. Where are they com- ing from? How does the water first enter the seed? Third — Arrange material as pictured. Chalk boxes may be used. Bury six Windsor (or lima) beans or kernels of corn half in the soil with scarred end down. Bury six beans with scarred end up. Note results from day to day. Fourth — Float two halves of a wal- nut shell on water. Place sugar care- fully in one. Observe from day to day. Treat the coats of squash seeds in the same way. Note results. Fifth — Between two plates of glass place two or three thicknesses of blot- ter. Next to the glass on one side place wheat, on the other corn. Note the growth of the roots. Sixth — Examine a bean or pea pod. Open it carefully. Pull off a bean or pea and notice where it fastens to the pod. This is the hilum. If you were to plant peas today in your garden would you know just what to do? Few people know much about seeds. This chapter and the one to follow will tell you how to plant your seeds. "Water Awakens the Seed— A dry seed may lie for years apparently dead. Add a little water and soon it rids itself of its coat and the young plant begins to grow. Exercise 2 and 3 told you that the water enters first at the micropyle, a little opening near the hilum. Just —Second Exercise. —Third Exercise. as soon as the water enters the seed activity begins. Sugar is made and water passes through the seed coat, just as it passed through the walnut shells and the coverings of the squash seeds into the seed (exercise 4). Thus seeds must be planted deeply enough in the soil to cover the hilum and the micropyle. The Seed — Select a bean which has germinated, or started, and open it carefully. Find the little embryo, or plant. It has a short stem and the be- ginning of a root. The little stem has a bud or small leaves on it. This is the plumule, and it grows into the main stem and the leaves of the new bean plant. The embryo needs food at once. Find its food. It is stored in the seed leaves, or cotyledons. You have learned that a seed is a sleeping plant in a secure house, the seed coat, with enough food to last until roots are formed and the stem and leaves get above the ground. Therefore, large seeds, such as beans, containing much food, are planted more deeply than small seeds such as radish. The gen- eral rule is to plant seeds five times their diameter. (To be continued.) Communications should be sent to C. A. STEBBINS, Editor Agricultural Education Division FEB b u University of California, College of Agriculture, Berkel* rnia Agricultural Experiment Station, E. J. Wickson, Direr Entered as second-class matter, January, 1912, at the Postoffice at Berkeley, Cal. The Junior Agriculturist A LITTLE PAPER ISSUED TWICE A MONTH FOR THE JUNIOR GARDENERS OF CALIFORNIA Berkeley. California, January 26, 1912 No, 12 GARDEN 'ho follow-in* clubs ha ihevllle dlatrl iher, \vi;. nrolled; L I -liil- »ol, Alameda, Elsa is enrolled; Piedmont * guna diati h. M. Lynel Lodl normal, W. er. 10 enrolled; Frank- Bchool, Oakland, Mall Flndley 40 trolled; Paso Rn! llliott r secretary, 87 * * * er and his chum, I the Washington best garden. * * * \\ -.. y- kiln school, in whi.h two gardening clubs are organ- r'a room imenta under children of this club ganl- b back yard, lub, under the dir< ,.r Miss Plndley, haa many plants growing In tli The chihir. through •• :i which la at least third sand and not to apply too much hildren have bean persistent and are now getting results. Later on we hope each club will enter ng contests, such at ing of alfalfa, sugar beets, wheat, corn, veg- Tn due time more will be said regarding the contests. * * * found the hoys and girls of the Piedmont echo ont, ea^ laae, which is mowing so rapidly. The election of officers la to Id soon, and you will hear of the results later. ba of Bei I Will he ta useful unsightly vn Plans should be got that ••• 'lin the use of a willing t<> pose; third, certain grades, the fifth . ahould be I fourth, <-nts shou • is and water; sixth, a aupervlsoi needed. The agricult'. division of th< help and will • * # # ideal miniature farm ■ city. n is shown ii; hoys and girls of nklin school, Oakland i Una cottage, which was built b; their manual training work w ite their assis- hoped that th( build the other necessary buildings. * * ♦ We wlah that it all visit the gardens at the "People's P Francisco, and see how much hard work the boya and girls and the I Which waa :<*bris tin- quaaja bricks and asl • aging to spade up 1 » his lot in shape, hut they have I given up, and now the gai are taking on a pleasing appear • There were n Boya from the Frank)! Oakland, with their enthuslai icher, brought over stsi 1 made and bulbs a 1 dlected. These were gi boys and girls of the "People's I club. These Oakland boya worked while visiting. We admired the per- sistence of the "People's Place*' garden- ers and the helpful spirit of the Frank- lin school boys and teachers. And why ahould we not help one another? The thing most worth while, after all, is that of helping our noighbor who needs assistance. Pictures were taken of the gardeners and officers, and we hope to reproduce them in The Junior Agri- culturist. * * * If you are planning to start a garden out of doors, we advise waiting until the rains begin, since the growing season is now so short. However, plants. may be started inside. Plant such seeds as pansie, stocks, coreopsis, ver- benas, petunias, etc., in boxes, to be transplanted in the spring. The garden- ers in Berkeley started early this year and in consequence have sold many radishes, turnips and much lettuce. *■ •* •* "We visited the Melrose Gardening club last week to And the boys and girls anxious to apply the principles which the principal, Mr. Mortensen, had given them the last term in school gardens. The children are to beautify and make more useful a vacant lot which is now breeding weeds. This club is starting right. * * •* Miss McDermott of San Francisco reported the formation of several clubs in the Glen Park school with a mem- bership of 253 children. They are all going to enter the sweet pea contest. You will hear from them. ¥■ # * The Durant club of Oakland sent in a picture last month, which we have shown to many other clubs. We hop° that others will follow the example of the Durant organization. * * * The Berkeley garden city has been quiet during the vacation and the rains. The banking fund is growing rapidly. * * * Have you started the early spring flowers in boxes? Also such vegetable seeds as onions, cabbage, etc. We receive many interesting letters from our gardeners which we should like to publish. We wonder if the writers would care. We are in need of more compositions about the gardening work. If a set is mailed from a club it is better for each writer to take a different sub- ject. The sweet pea contest is well under way. Be sure to read the full an- nouncement published last week. Keep the "diary" in neatness, for it will in- fluence the judges. The vegetable luncheon to be held at Berkeley in May will be open to any of our gardeners who do the best work. We ask the clubs for their assistance. What club will grow the potatoes, the peas, the beans, the turnips, etc.? These are to be sent in when notice is given in May. Have you made a plan for beautify- ing your schoolyard? If not be up and doing. Are you studying the garden les- sons and performing the exercises? You ought to be, for they are written entirely for your benefit. You will find the exercises interesting if you try them. Get your teacher to help you. The University of California wants to help you and to help your parents. The agricultural department has pub- lished many bulletins giving aid to the farmers. If your father is a farmer have him send in his name to receive these bulletins free. One has just been issued telling how to prevent plant diseases. Tell your teacher that articles are to be printed soon in the Junior Agri- culturist for her benefit. The numbers of California junior gardeners have grown to 3,500. Many clubs are helping in the additional ex- pense to the agricultural department, namely from Yolo, Occidental, Mar- shalls and Tehama. The Tehama club sent us $1. Thus these boys and girls are of service to their other garden friends. A Word of Appreciation Professor Stebbins — Dear Sir: I am writing you to thank you for the things you have given us. Our gardens are getting along fine. I wear my button on my coat. I received the paper from you that you sent me. All my seeds are up. I am going to transplant soon. I have lettuce, radishes, carrots and parsley growing in my patch. I have to keep the leaves off my plat. Oakland. HARRY MARTIN. Raises Radishes and Onions ARLINE MILLER, 727 L Street, Fresno I am very much interested in your Junior Agriculturist and would like to receive your paper regularly. I have in my garden some radishes and onions. We are living in rooms and I can't have much of anything at home, but I have a few house plants. I like to work out in a garden. Last year we were on our ranch and I worked out in the garden all day long. I had watermelons and muskmelons. I tried to raise some lettuce, but the chickens would eat it up. • Capillary Attraction MARION WELBORN, Paso Robles Our teacher, Miss Elliott, hung two bottles on the wall. Into one she put about a cup of water, the other she left empty. She then put a lamp wick from one bottle to the other. In about two or three days the bottle which was empty had about an inch of water in it. This shows capillary attraction. We are now trying subirrigation to show capillary attraction. The water has already been to the top. It was brought up by capillary attraction. EDITORIAL Juniors, who is your best boy or girl friend? Think a i i i • Now, why is he or she your best friend? Why do you like this friend tin* best? Among other things, isn't i; because thi- friend is -1 with you? Because you can always depend upon him or her"- The nd trust Mr. Roosevelt because he is honest He what he thinks is right. You love your parents for their kindness and justice to you. Think again with us of the man you like m< man you most respect. Would yon be willing to have him. oi think you dishonest for the sake of a radish? think t: strange question. Let me tell you of a gardener who thinks i radish than her honesty. Thi> gardener, with a sackful o! vegetables which had been given her iv it was a girl), thinking that no one was near, pulled radishes from a garden which did not belong t<> her. She looked about guiltily. What a lowly thing a radish is t.. receive in return foi honeMy \\ e should have been glad to give her do/en. of radi- than to have her prove dishonest. If you thing which you have not earned, and you feel that you can not live with- out it. a ledonus Plants — How many cotyledons has a bean? How many cotyledons has corn? All plants such as corn are monocotyledons, plants with one cotyledon. All plants such as bean dicotyledons, having two. Some seeds, such as pine tree seeds, have many cotyledons and are called poly- — Fourth Exercise.1 1 cotyledons. All plants belong to one of these classes. Distance Apart for Plants — Examine the wheat and the corn roots (exercise 5). The roots of the wheat run side by side and are very long. They are deep roots. Plants having such roots may grow close to each other without crowding. The corn roots are not so long, and near the stem many surface and bracing roots are forming. Plants with branching surface roots must be planted far apart. Many seeds do not germinate. At first sowing put many seeds in the trench and later thin out the weak plants. Plants such as lettuce, which mature above ground, should be thinned until they are as far apart as the dis- tance across a mature plant. Chapters 9 and 10 tell you more about sowing seeds and thinning plants. • By this time you should know why a good seed bed is necessary. You should know considerable about preparing such a bed and you should know how deep to plant seeds. If you are not to have a school garden, ask your parents for a plat at home, or start a garden in a window box. The following chapters will tell you many interesting things about gardening. QUESTIONS 1— What starts germination in a seed? 2 — Of what use is the micropyle? 3 — What effect has sugar in the seed? 4 — Where does it come from? 5— Why should seeds be buried in the soil? —Fifth Exercise. 6 — What is a seed? 7 — How do we know how deep to plant seeds? 8 — How are plants grouped? 9 — How do we know now far apart to grow plants? Home Studies 1 — Examine the seeds of many differ- ent plants. .What about the seed helps to bury them? 2 — Dig up corn and wheat plants, wash off the dirt and compare the roots. 3 — Open several pea and bean pods. Are the seeds in the separate pods all the same size? 4 — Germinate as many seeds as you can find from weeds to the cocoanut. Note the embryo, and food supply of each. 5 — -Note the great number of seeds produced by one plant. Why is this? 6 — If you live on or near a farm ex- amine a handful of seed that is to be sown. Can you .find any foreign seeds? 7 — Make a list of seeds that are blown about, that are carried by water, that are distributed by animals. 8 — Visit a nursery and see where flower seeds come from. — Sixth Exercise. Communications should be sent to C. A. STEBBINS, Editor Agricultural Education Division or University of California, College of Agriculture, B^^Jf^vCalifornia Agricultural Experiment Station, E. J. Wickson, Director Entered as second-class matter. November, 1911. at the Postoffice at Berkeley. Cal. The Junior Agriculturist ^£ LITTLE PAPER ISSUED TWICE A MONTH FOR THE JUNIOR GARDENERS OF CALIFORNIA Vol. I. Berkeley. California. February 26, 1912 No. 13 EDITORIAL ral of our Garden city boys have become Interested lately In sell* ing vegetables to bo use wives. The Garden city bunk pays the salesmen for their efforts. After each market day the boys have been anxious to receive the award for their work. This Is proper. The boys put Into the Garden city thought and honest work, and they should be given recognition. hly the money is itisfy their own desires. This Is improper. L t us not l)« sitate to receive the dollar, but let us be sure that we have earned It squarely, and then let us be sure that It does the riKl>t kind of work. The dollar which takes us to the moving picture show while our small brother or sister needs clothing or books, or wants to see the pictures, too; the dollar whicli takes us into temptation and leads us to see and do wrong; the dollar which buys a vote or friendship, these dollars are w< iking in the wrong way. On the other hand, the dollars which bring happiness to us and our neighbor are the ones to be proud of; these are doing good work. So it is plain that a dollar, like a boy, may .l-> good work or poor. Or shall we put It this way? A dollar with an un- selfish boy or man attached will do good work, while a dollar hampered by a dishonest, selfish boy or man works dishonestly and selfishly. It is quite possible while reading or writing to get in our own light, to get In our own way. It Is quite possible for our dollar to get In our own way. If we hold tightly to the coin when others are hungry, we are stingy and selfish, and hence disliked and unhappy. We may grip the dollar so closely, we may love it so much more and the best things so much less that we fall to see and know the best. That is. the money may He In the bank It should be used to purchase a good book, a music lesson, a li. autiful picture. We may hoard the dollar fondly, being satisfied witn m eond class books, music, pictures, beds, food, manners, and thus the second rate life becc-mes a habit Then again, the dollar may get in our way by being held too loosely, ,t rticularly If it comes too easily and with too little work on our part, fo it leads us to the theaters too much, It makes us think "clothes" too n» i. it leads us to matters which fascinate. nust agree that the city Hi is fascinating, that some city men are fascinating, for they are ItB med jm, but they are not always the best to tie to. Let us make the dollir work to bring the best into our lives, the life of our neighbor and the life of the community. »nly does the dollar often get In our own way. but It gets in the way of a community's progress. The grip on dollars keeps our tea doing their best, for the schoolrooms are too crowded: It keeps the l from becoming more useful and more beautiful. Fifty dollars and less keeps a bay city from ridding Itself of the weedy vacant lot pest. A eautiful is a city valuable. Let us think hard that our dollar may not get In our own way or In the way of our community, that It may work for us to do the most good, that it may work for the community. GARDEN NOTES The Melrose club, Mr. Mortensen su- pervisor, has announced work on an adjoining vacant lot. The Melrose school is on the progressive list and will have an interesting demonstra- tion In the early summer. The sixth and seventh grades are interested. They are entered in the sweet pea con- test. * * * The Hillside school, Berkeley, is the first to announce the attainment of a vacant lot for this term. The children will commence work at once to beau- tify and to make useful this plat. This announcement was made by the princi- pal of the school at a mother's meeting. The lot will be made the center of ex- tension work for the community. Other lots will be lightly plowed and the children will sow flower seed broad- cast. Each school should be an in- fluence for good in its community. Mr. Underhill, living in the Hillside region, offered, at the above meeting, to prepare as well as to donate his vacant lot if the children would sow the seeds. Let other Berkeley citizens follow suit. * * * Mr. Imrie has been able to obtain an adjoining lot through the kindness of the owner, Mrs. Rush. The Le Conte school, Berkeley, will thus widen its work. * * * Many new clubs have been formed during the past week. Our garden enrollment now numbers at least 4,000 boys and girls. * * ■* Miss McDermott, an enthusiastic worker in San Francisco, has interested over 250 children in the sweet pea con- test. Mr. Heaton of the same city has long had home gardening as an ideal for school children, and intends to fur- ther the sweet pea idea. * * * Birds bear a close relation to gar- dening. Several Oakland teachers met in Berkeley Saturday morning of last week to study birds in the field. Seven- teen different varieties were identified; the English sparrow, white crowned sparrow, the spurred towhee, the Cali- fornia towhee, Arma's humming bird, red shafted flicker, ruby crowned king- let, California woodpecker, California bushtit, dwarf hermit, thrush, house wren, California jay, Stellers jay, Sierra junco, western robin, song spar- row, plain titmouse. Trips are to be taken every other Saturday morning. * * * A few boys were at the Berkeley garden city Saturday. They sold many vegetables. The soil is too wet to be worked, but the plants need thinning out. One row of radishes which was well taken care of has produced nearly $3 worth. Other rows not thinned out will be a loss to the owner. * ■* Do not forget to plant flower seeds in boxes now, that the young plants may be moved to the open later — pan- sies, stocks, verbenas, petunias, cor- eopsis, daisies, etc. It is not too late to enter the sweet pea contest. Send in your name. If directions for growing sweet peas are desired they will be mailed to growers. Mr. Vergon, principal of the Emer- son school, Oakland, did a fine piece of work last year in school gardening. The boys and girls under his direction worked nearly an acre of land. Pota- toes at the rate of 250 bushels to the acre and other products in a like pro- portion were raised. Mr. Vergon has given us many pictures of the work. Some of these will be reproduced on these pages. We hope that he will continue his efforts. * •* * We are glad to hear from you, Jun- iors. Write, telling of your garden work. Pictures also are welcomed. The other boys and girls are anxious to know about your gardens. * #■ * L. E. Brauer, principal of the Salem school, Lodi, has added his fifth grade of 44 members to the Lodi gardening club. J. H. Garrison of the San Fer- nando schools is doing excellent work. He has a gardening contest under way which is giving much interest to plant growth. Forty-five dollars is to be given as seven prizes to the best gar- deners of the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grades. The prizes are offered by patrons of the schools. Miss Cecil Peabody is helping Mr. Garrison. * * * The Berkeley Gardening association is planning to give seeds to the children for home gardens. * # * Miss Z. Henrich and Miss Collier have many new plans for the People's Place gardens in San Francisco. These teachers are really serving. * * * Three points should be added to the sweet pea score card for punctuation, arrangement, spelling and neatness of diary. GARDEN LESSONS t ii \i*i BH \ THE SKKD AMI II ^ \KKDi — I Con- t iuue BXBR4 ISB9 1. — Place see is in two t<"t ties* and *»r- range as shown In Figure 1. Use cot- (f A ton or sawdust In the bottom of the bottles. Observe from day to day. 2. — Plant seeds in two tumblers or cans. Moisten the soil In one. Keep water standing in the other. Figure 2. Observe each day. 3. — Put seeds in three open bottles, containing a little moist cotton or saw- dust. Place one near jthe stove, one outside but protected from rain, and one on the window sill away from the stove. Note results each day. 4. — Arrange two tumblers suspending seeds in the water with mosquito net- ting as shown in figure 3. Put dis- till.-.»«» |j Communications should be sent to C. A. STEBBINS. Editor Agricultural Education DW began to fail. This is easily explained. You have learned that a seed contains a young plant and enough food to keep it growing until roots and leaves are formed. From that time the plant must get its food through the leaves and roots. Distilled water contains no plant food hence the roots could not convey food to the plants and they died. Exercise 5 shows that the seed leaves, the storage house for the embryo plant, furnish food for some time until the young plant can get estab- lished. The third row of plants has done the best of all. The plants in the first row from which the seed leaves Were picked are doing very poorly. The Eirbryo Plant Does Not Need Mg-'-t — The natural place for seeds is beneath the surface of the soil. There- fore, the little plant within the seed coat does not need light. Can you per- form an experiment to prove this? ~he Plant Above Ground Needs Light — Light is essential to the plant after the seed food has been used; No- tice how these plants lean toward the window. Arrange an experiment to show that plants need light. Later you wiM learn ^ow plants make sure of plenty of light. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. Rows of plants should be planted north and south, so that sun^ght may strike the plants from all sides and the soil between the rows. Sunlight purifies soil. An ideal garden should slope gently toward the south in order that the sun's rays may fall more directly on the plants and on the soil. Flowering plants need much sun- light. Others, such as ferns, do best in cool, shady spots. Note — Tn talking about the needs of a seed we mean the needs of the liv- ing plant within the seed coat. QUESTIONS 1. What does the embryo plant need for growth? 2. What may be done to the seed bed to furnish air to seeds? 3. Why should seeds not be planted while soil is wet? 4. How may a seed bed be made warm? 5. When should manure be added? 6. How do you know that plants need food? 7. What is the main use of the coty- ledons? 8. How do you know that plants need light? HOME STUDIES 1. How does the farmer nearest you prepare the land for air, for warmth, for food, for sunshine? 2. Why are the plants in your vi- cinity that grow close together so tall? 3. Notice the limbs of a tree; why are some dying? Why are there no branches on the lower part of a tree? 4. How far apart should orchard trees be planted to insure enough sun- light? 5. How does irrigation furnish food to plants? 6. What is meant by "cover crops"? Of what value are they to the farmer? What plants are called legumes? 7. Find out a way to irrigate with manured waier. 8. What is the cost in labor, etc., of manuring an acre of land? Of adding lime to an acre? How is lime put on the soil? The Swelling Power of Seeds LLOYD KENNEDY, Oakland. Franklin School, A Fifth Grade. The teacher took a small bottle and filled it with dry beans. The bottle was three and one-half inches tall and one inch in diameter. After this was done she filled it with water and placed it in a large glass that was almost full to the brim with water. Oh the glass was pasted the label: "Do seeds as they swell exert any force?" The next day, the bottom of the bot- tle fell out, and the following day it was split lengthwise, only held to- gether by a thread which was wrapped around it. That afternoon the thread also broke, the bottle was in pieces, and the beans were oh the bottom of the glass. This teaches us that seeds do exert force when they swell. University of California, College of Agriculture, Berkeley, California Agricultural Experiment Station, E. J. Wickson, Director Entered as second-class matter, November. 1911, at the Postoffice at Berkeley, Cal. The Junior Agriculturist A LITTLE PAPER ISSUED TWICE A MONTH FOR THE JUNIOR GARDENERS OF CALIFORNIA Vol. I. Berkeley. California. March 14, 1912 No. 14 GARDEN LESSONS (ii LPTBB \ i PKOIILKM TK)\s Soon you will be at work In the gar- dens. To grow vegetables which will be Just as good as the vegetable man ■ells, and to glow Bowert such as you can buy at the florists, jrou must be able to answer the following questions: 1. Will seeds grow well in sand? In clay? Or, better. In a mixture of the two? 1 Will seeds grow well In a cloddy seedbed? Will y<-u wet the seedbed Just be- fore spading and raking? 4. What causes the roots to grow downward? 5. Will you irrigate with trenches, I iuiir,- I. flood, subirrigate, or sprinkle your gar- den? 6. If sprinkling is necessary at first to start the seeds, when should it be done? 7 Does cultivation keep the soil water from escaping? 8. How deep will you plant your seeds? 9. How far apart should vegetables and flowers stand? There are two ways to answer these questions. You can ask some one to answer them for you, or you can set up the experiments and answer them your- self. You will take the second method if you really want to learn. i:\iim i-i x in MM \ » Tin: in BSTIOXI \nn\ i l Qe( three chalk boxes. Fill one with clean sand, one with clay and one with a mixture of sand and clay. e soil in each hours later sow 10 of the same kind of seeds in each box. Note the results. wo chalk boxes moi • place tine soil. In the other put cloddy 5URK/KE ROOTS IN EXCESS wtmm soli. Water alike and sow 10 seeds In Observe dally. ill a box with dry soil. Add water and stir at once. What happens? Fill another box with dry soil. Water Mt the box aside. Stir the soil day. Which is the better way? 4. Knock out the bottom of a chalk- box. Tack wire fly screen In its place. Fill the box a third full of sand or sawdust, arrange the box as shown In q-r./*V£;:l & Figure 3. figure 1. Plant wheat seeds in the sand or sawdust. Add water. Watch the roots. Why do they grow through the screen first and then turn back? 5. Get four boxes about 12x14 inches in size. Prepare enough moist soil for all. Plant the same kind of seeds (use corn or peas) the same depth, in rows, in each box. The rows should be four inches apart. Sprinkle a pint of water on one box of soil. Dig trenches be- tween the rows in one of the boxes and fill with the same amoun* of water. Cover the trenches after the water soaks in. Add the same amount of water as needed to both boxes until one quart has been used. Pull up a few plants from each box and compare the root growth. The sprinkled plants will probably have roots near the sur- face, while the others will have long roots. Figure 2. Flood one box with a quart of water. Give it the same treatment as the others, but do not add any more water. Make a hole in one side of the last box. Insert a funnel snugly figure 3). Pour into the soil water as needed until one quart has been used. This shows the method of subirrigation. Which is the best way to water the soil for plant growth? How does a farmer subirrigate his land? Observe the experiments daily, and question 5 will probably be an- swered correctly. correctly. Put one in the sunshine each day after watering. Put the other in the shade. Note results. 7. Prepare two tomato cans of soil that weigh the same. Add the same amount of water to each. Each day, some time after watering, stir the sur- face of the soil in one can with a small stick. Weigh every other day. Which loses water the more rapidly? 8. Line a tumbler, or fruit jar, with black cloth and fill with sand or saw- dust. Place seeds at different depths between the cloth and the glass (figure 4). Moisten the contents of the tum- blers. Note results daily. Which is the best depth for the seeds? How many times the diameter of the seed is the best depth? 9. Arrange corn and wheat seeds as shown in figure 5, chapter 4. Put sev- eral thicknesses of blotters between the plates of glass. Observe the root growth. Notice the surface roots (roots near the seed) forming. It will take some time for each pupil to set up these exercises at school. Would it not be well to divide them among the class? You could arrange at least two experiments. Your neighbor two and so on, and then all could tell results. ¥ou could each perform all the exercises at home. You must not get discouraged if your experiments go wrong. "Try, try again." THIS WEEK'S READING LIST AND REVIEWS 1. "Garden Book for Young People." (Alice Lounsberry.) 2. "Flowers Shown to Children." (J. Kelman.) 3. "Trees Every Child Should Know." (J. Rodgers.) When Mother Lets Us Garden Oakland. EUNICE FONES, Franklin School, B Fifth Grade The book, "When Mother Lets Us Garden," was written by Frances Dun- can. It tells how to plant radishes, carrots, turnips and many other vegetables. It also tells how to plant flowers. When you are planting your vege- tables or flowers it is a good book to have. Garden Fairies Figure 4. 6. Fill two boxes with soil. Plant seeds the same depth. Sprinkle both MILDRED TAYLOR, Oakland. Franklin School, B Fifth Grade "Garden Fairies," which was men- tioned in The Junior Call not long ago, is a very Interesting book. It tells of a little girl who was in a hammock in her garden when a fairy came to her and told her all about The fairy told her to think just of the fairies that night when she went to bed and she would see and dream of a fairy wedding. This book would be very interesting for other children to read. THE WORLD'S GREAT PAINTINGS The Cleaners** by Jean Francois Millet COURTESY OF RABJOFN & MO*COM If you ever visit the historic Louvre, France's famous art gallery, which is one of the great show places not only of Paris but of all Europe, you will in all probability see Jean Francois Mil- let's painting, "The Gleaners." The picture is a wonderful example of the beauty to be found in homely things and places. In the foreground appear the gleaners working their toil- some way across the acres of the broad fields, in an endeavor to glean from its sunbrowned stretches some small left- overs of the harvest. In the back- ground are the figures of the harvesters working busily, while at the left loom the two enormous stacks of grain which bespeak the richness of the har- vest's yield. Away in the distance may be seen the homes of the vil- lagers and a fringing line of trees. To the right sits the silent figure of an overseer on horseback. Over the whole scene the hot August sun beats down. The artist has concentrated his at- tention upon the figures of the three women in the foreground. The one standing apart from the others shows her age. She has worked long and late, and the toll is telling upon her. Her attitude is strained and awkward, and her tired muscles find it exceedingly hard to respond to her direction. Of the other two, one is right in the prime of her womanhood. Her back is strong and broad and her position is free and untrammeled. One could imagine her movtnjr from place to place with the machinelike movement of clockwork The third member of the group is younger than either of the others II. hands are as yet smooth and un- roughened with toll, and her attitude is replete with the lithe grace of ) In painting his gleaners Millet has filled his canvas with atmosphere feels the heat of the August sun, and one feels the weariness of the older woman. There is sympathetic t; standing in his handling of colors. Millet was born in 1S14 in Orach? near Cherbourg; Prase* Boni of the peasant class, he was greatly im- pressed with their distinction as a and on arriving at man's estat. termlned to make them the su)- of his paintings. He began to study painting in earnest at the age of 18. and was ftrst a student in Cherbourg. ■ Later he went to Paris and studied un- der the great Delaroche. His fame did not come without a struggle, hov. but he worked on faithfully. Af time public opinion changed. 11 - painting. "The Gleaners." was first ex- hibited in the salon in 1867. It was purchased at that time j,v M. Blndoi and later by Mme. Pommeroy. by whom it was presented to the Louvre in 188». EDITORIAL Can you be depended upon, Junior? If you are asked to drive a stake, can you drive it straight? If your teacher asks you to plant seed rows 14 inches apart, is your row distance 14 or 18 inches? If you are an officer of a gardening club, do you attend to your duties? We received a letter lately from a boy who is interested in his school club. He wrote: "Our club may bust up because the president does not come to the meetings. We don't want it to bust up. What shall we do?" This officer accepted the presidency, and in doing so became responsible to his boy friends. Let us ask you a fair question: Had this boy, even if he had lost interest, any right to miss the club meetings? We think not. He was selfish, and thought little about service for his neighbors. We are all responsible, not only to ourselves, but to our neighbors. As we have told you before, no one has a right to neglect a cold, for an irritable person, coughing and sniffling, is not only unpleasant for his neighbor, but the friend may catch the cold, since colds are transmitted from friend to friend. A Garden city officer failed in a responsibility lately. The activities of more than 100 boys and girls were upset. This individual, a girl, sent no word, and evidently thought little about her responsibility to the other children. Last Sunday the Columbia Park Boys' band delightfully entertained the people of Berkeley in the Greek theater. We are sure that each one of the boys enjoyed his service to his Berkeley friends. We know that each member of the band was to be depended upon, for the harmonious render- ing was perfect. One error by the boy who struck the drum would have upset, in a measure, the good work of the others. Have you ever realized that you are a part of a great orchestra, a part of a great whole, and that if you do not "hit the drum" at the proper time the very best that you know how, you are causing a discord, you are spoiling the work or play of others? If you can not be depended' upon, do not accept a responsible position. But if you can not be depended upon, make up your mind at once that from now on you will always drive the stake straight, plant seeds at the required distance, hit the drum properly and attend to your duties as an officer and as a citizen. Put a mark in your notebook each time that you fulfill a responsibility until you make "fulfilling responsibilities" a habit. For if you do not learn to fulfill responsibilities now, at home and in school, you will not be worth much as a man or as a woman in the community and in the state. If, as a boy or girl, you are not a good citizen, we doubt if you will be one as a man or as a woman. GARDEN NOTES Last Wednesday I met with the club flower seeds in the boxes inside and in its first meeting of this year. The then re-set the young plants in the meeting was called to order by Vice school yard. They will plant some more President August Thiery, and where of the red geraniums, too. These will do you suppose it was held? They be flowers which will last and there have cleared out the basement of the will always be some one saying, "These manual training building and set some flowers were planted by the garden- old desks on the dirt floor. There are ing club of 1912." desks at one side for the officers. In •* * * this basement the club holds all its meetings and works during the rainy We have just returned from a 2,000 days. mile journey limited to California. Ev- After the meeting was over the chil- erywhere we found children and dren worked out In the gardens. New parents interested in agriculture. Many land was carefully prepared for an- !IPw ..„flrdpnin„ Pi,,hV» ar* tn hP fnrm^rt other crop of radishes and onions. neY gardening clubs are to be formed Some of the larger boys went to work and our lar^e class of junior gardeners and before night succeeded in fencing will soon number 5,000. about half of the plats. They used old , _ lumber from the school and rabbit wire, ~ ... , ,, , which some of the boys brought from Communications should be sent to home. They expect to continue the C. A. STEBBINS, Editor • work as soon as sufficient material can a~~;„„h„..«i t?^„«„+;«„ n.Tr,v-rt„ be obtained. They also plan to plant Agricultural Education Division J> University of California, College of Agriculture, Berkeley, California Agricultural Experiment Station, E. J. Wickson, Director Entered as second-class matter, November, 1911, at the Postoffice at Berkeley. Cal.' m The Junior Agriculturist v— >* LITTLE PAPER ISSUED TWICE A MONTH FOR THE JUNIOR GARDENERS OF CALIFORNIA Vol. 1. Berkeley. California March 28, 1912 No. 18 1 — f — 3 - :^§^i& *! Hap/. M ... .- Squad of Bo\}s and Girls at Work at the People s Place, North San Fran EDITORIAL Last week a small gardener said to its, '1 love to plant something always comes up." Do yon know, Juniors, thai up-." wli<. never gardened when we wei ">l. mist ng a deal The garden can teach so much pidet rod velons home can teach the most skillful designer and architect. The birds as they -oar tell ta that the brightest student of the aero- plane may well listen to. The lowly ant i ^s of patience, and the seed as it sends t > -rth a plant to blost the great lesson that we '"reap what that we get from the w ,:t what « There is your sister, brother, mother, or father. Smile at him or her, what do you get in return? Yes, a imile happily, corned a cheery remark. Pol |oy into your home, and rood cl in on you; scowl crossly and speak harshly, and I . come. Your friend is your looking glass. In hi.s face shon mile or your sc ru mark his face You have no right to be ci you are putting wrinkles in some 01 OW of friends "smile so easily, and soon everybody ifi snnlv Put care, patience and thought into the of a seed, at gift i rior flower. Put carel advertised in the plant. If you put un happiness and dishonesh world, you will suffer in their return. If you help your friend, you will ..•'help in turn. It is besl to - that you may reap service and nol s>elfisbi We want you to tlunk aboul service to your friends*, for California can never »rnia unless you Junioi selfish than arc so many fathers and mothers. Book List for This Week 1. "A Little Garden Calendar" by A. Paine. (Book review concerning same by Helen Diehl.) 2. "Trees Shown to Children" by J. Kelman. 3. "First Book of Forestry,' by Roth. The Ideal Home 'A Little Garden Caiendar" HELEN DIEHL, Oakland. B Fifth Grade, Franklin School The book entitled "A Little Garden Calendar," written by Albert Paine, tells about the different flowers grown in the different months. The story part is about a little boy named David, his sister Prudence and the gardener. In January the children are told all about seeds and how to plant them in flower pots. Then in February the little plants come up. The children are told how to care for them. In March David and Prue discover that some of their little plants are really radishes. In April the showers come and the children find that the yellow dust or pollen is food for the seeds. They are told how seeds are fertilized in May. June is the month when they go down to the strawberry patch. The next month is July, when weeds are studied. In August they learn about the dif- ferent kinds of leaves. The next month is September and the children are told about the servants of the flowers. The month of October is the time when the scattering of seeds is studied. In November they are told about an- nuals and perennials. The last month is December, when they talk about the Christmas tree. The book is very interesting. Other teachers should take advan- tage of the Junior to vitalize composi- tion work. Boys and girls, why do you not send me in more letters? If gardens are started in cans or pots be sure to use soil containing one-third sand. The soil should be wet at least 24 hours before stirring and using. Get the soil ready before placing it in the cans. Do not keep the soil too moist. Why do, you gar- deners use water so much? Saturday morning followed a heavy rain, yet six of the Berkeley gardeners asked if they might irrigate. One club has failed just because the boys and girls "puddled" the soil. Perseverance LLOYD PETERS, Sixth Grade, Pitts School We have joined the Junior Garden- ing club and in the spring we hope to do something in the vegetable line. We have received our seeds and were glad to get them, and now we hope soon to get our papers and pins. We have a few house plants and will have more. We had some bulbs three years ago and some turned out good and others were failures. This year we have some more bulbs in tin cans, all the same size, and hope they will grow well. Still, if they do not we will keep on trying. The children of the B Fifth grade, Franklin school, Oakland, have formed in miniature on a sand dirt table in the schoolroom an ideal home. The teacher, in connection with her nature study work, has been teaching the children the points to be considered in making a beautiful home. This is nature study well aimed, indeed. The arti- cles below were written by two mem- bers of her class. — Editor. AN IDEAL HOME Stewart Carter An ideal home must have plenty of sunlight and pure air. The house should be placed on a slope, where the water will run off. It should have a good out- look or view, such as a lake that you can just see a little of through the trees, or a meadow filled with flowers, hills in the distance or any pretty view of nature. If you have a garden do not cut it up by planting different kinds of flowers here and there, but make it look rest- ful. You should not have paths that wind around too much, but just have slight turns. To make it pretty mass the foliage. Do not have a tree or bed of flowers right in the middle of the lawn. Have it open in the center. Have colors that harmonize. If you have a variety of flowers that blend plant them according to height. AN IDEAL HOME Eunice Fones An ideal home must have plenty of pure air and sunshine. It should not be closed in by high buildings nor be near any factories. The drainage should also be good, otherwise the water would get in the basement and it would not be healthy. The home should be on a slight hill. The ideal home should have a good outlook, such as a lake, meadow or hills. The garden should look restful, flow- ers that blend placed next to each other and the paths slightly curved. The tall flowers should be near the fence and the smaller ones in front. An Appreciation DOROTHY DOW Our teacher, Mrs. Melquiond, is hav- ing us write about our gardens. I have planted a garden at home that is doing better than the one at school. In my home garden I have planted lettuce and radishes that are coming up, and carrots, onions and spinach that have not yet come up. For flowers I have planted sweet- peas, poppies and pansies. Monday I am going to plant more seeds in my school garden. We wish to thank Pro- fessor Stebbins for all the things that he has given us to start the garden with, and know that he will be glad to learn that they are doing well. In Piedmont there is a model twen- tieth century school sitting high on a hill. We were pleased, indeed, with the cosy homelike building and its big family. Each child in the school from the first to the eighth grade has a garden. This week we hope to have them join our big class. * * * We hope that you are studying the garden lessons. Can you answer all the questions? The lessons should be kept on file and used as a textbook. Garden Notes This is the garden time of the for most plants. Put the seeds into the • rly; * * * Teachers and children should make Of the "picture and book" corner. » • « New clubs are being formed • Within the last t »•. more the gardei which numbers nearly ;,.iiuu boys and girls. * # # «» wish ee in k enta it is •> manual. * * * We articles written by Juniors. Send in your compoaitlOl * # * s" ;u,. written by children ol mklin school, land, Miss A. Sellander, teacher. Teach, lo you not use- the Junior page c new life to your composition work, as has this Oakland teach* * * * Berkeley garden city is flourish- in u. The bank is hard pressed, during nort banking hour, 10:30 to 11 k nn Saturday mornings, to handle the financial activities of the city. Many ibles and flowers were sold this last ■ president of the univer- sity has kindly given us more land, and through the assistance of the children and the student teachers an embryo city will be ideally built about the gardens. From 20 to 50 visitors are welcomed on garden day. * * Principal Edgar of the Franklin school, Oakland, itas obtained a vacant lot tot a garden. Under the direction of the regular teachers, Mrs. Smith, lindley and Miss Graham, 160 children have made an excellent start. re glad to welcome them all as new members of the great class of California Junior gardeners. The Franklin school children do things so well that we expect "something differ- ent" in school gardens from them. * # •* A miniature farm has been started by one grade on a sand table under the tlon of Miss a. Sellander. The small cottage was made in art work. Vines and young trees have been grown to satisfy landscape architecture. The children are making a study of an ideal We like this idea, for nothing is quite so fundamental to the future of t ate as raising the ideals of the homes. Through the sand and dirt table, art, i y, manual training, arithmetic, etc, mav be given new and vital direc- tion, in addition, the principles of agriculture may be taught. Have the boys make a box 4x6 feet and 6 to 8 inches deep. Fill this with equal parts of sand, leaf mold and gar- den soil. Plan in miniature an ideal farm home and reproduce it in the box. young trees, a lawn, flower beds, vegetables and grains in their proper places. Try out simple agricultural ex- periments. "Elementary School Agri- culture," published by the Macmillan company, San Francisco, price 30 cents, will be of assistance. » * # Garden city citizens should hand their grievances in writing to the mayor for adjustment by the council. Mr. Packard, in charge of the Im- perial Valley Experiment station, has undertaken the organization of cotton growing contests in Imperial county. A large sum of money has been donated for prizes to be given t l who grow the best half acre of cotton. The high school men in the county who are interested in agriculture are to assist Mr. Packard in forming local clubs. One does not know California until a is made through the southland. The Awakening of the Seed ii. n .Ns.tv oaklniHi. i rnui |la tea* i. v Fifth Orate. When I lima bean on it bad soaked for three d i the ater the through t: When the ntered this caused SCtlon in the seed and made sugar. The next drawn through the cont of the seed by osmosis. w • then opened the seed coat saw the embryo, whlcb is plant, and AS, which are wo fat set- What awakened the seed? The w awakened the seed, in what kin i ol soil should seeds be i should r ted in moist soil. (-IIAPTKR VII The Garden Now you are ready to start your garden. You should have a home gar- den, whether a garden is given to you at school or not. You may start your garden at any time. If started in the fall, yon must first water the soil well several days before spading. (Exercise 3, chapter VI, taught you this.) Selection of I'lat — Select as good soil is can be found in a sunny place. If the soil is too clayey, add sand. If humus is necessary, stir in two inches of dry, decayed manure. Plants do not grow wel! in sand or clay alone, as shown by exercise 1, chapter vi. I.n>lnx eat Uir r" California, Berk< it Is necessary that you do to be considered an earnest applicant for a prise: l. When and where « 1 i * 1 you plant your seeds? _'. What variety of seeds did you use? Prom whom were they obtained? : Briefly state how you prepared the seedbed? J. U<.\v deep were the seeds planted? Bow far apart? 5. Wlu-n did your plants come up! H«»w tall are they now? ho knows about the planting of your sweet peas? Give name and address. 7. Will you send in a photograph of your blossoms before they are i»i<-ked, with those which you wish to enter in the contest? S. Are you keeping a diary? in order that you may not forget the terms of the contest, they are repeated below: First — in order to enter the contest as an Individual, you must be a California Junior Gardener. It Is only necessary to send your name and address to C. A. Stebblns, Berkeley, asking to become a member of the large class, if you are not already enrolled. Each school that contests shall be organized as a California Junior blob. Write for Information to the agricultural education division, versity of Callforni ■ nd — Contestants shall have no direct assistance In planting the - or caring for the plants further than that obtained from suggestions : iends or from reading. Each contestant shall do all of the work in ing the sweet peas. He shall keep a diary noting the following points: (l) Variety of seed planted and where obtained; (2) place and date anting; (3) details of planting, preparation of soli, depth of sowing seeds, distance apart, etc.; (4) time young plants are first seen; (5) draw- of the young plants two weeks and four weeks old; (41) care of the seedlings, cultivation. Irrigation, etc.; (7) time "f blossoming; (8) the sig- nature of your teacher or another friend who knows of your sweet pea gani. in a legible form shall be sent in with the 20 sprays of IW4 el pass t-ntered. Third — Prizes will be awarded on 20 sprays from the following score card: Points. For freshness and good color 6 For number of flowers to stem (four) 4 For length of stem (approximately 18 inches) 4 For arrangement of flowers on the stem 4 For size of bloom — approximate width of standard, 1%; Spencers, 1 *4 . and others 4 For neatness, arrangement, spelling in relation to the diary.. 3 Total 25 Fourth — The prizes are as follows: First prize for the best 20 sprays grown by a Cali- fornia Junior Gardening club $10.00 Second prize 5.00 Third prize . 2.50 First prize for the best 20 sprays grown by an individual California Junior Gardener $10.00 Second prize, a set of gardening tools. 5.00 Third prize 2.50 The next 15 prize winners. 1.00 each Fifth— The awards will De made at an exhibit to be held in Hearst hall, University of California, the latter part of May. Announcement will be made at the proper time as to methods of sending in the flowers and the date. Sixth — Flowers grown in hothouses are not eligible. Seventh — After the exhibit the flowers will be sold: (1) To help pay the expenses of the exhibit and vegetable luncheon; (2) to further the Junior gardening work. The following institutions have donated prizes: The San Francisco Call; the Morse Seed company, San Francisco; the California Seed company, San Francisco, and the Germain Seed company, Los Angeles. EDITORIAL We hope that you read the editorial in last Saturday's Junior Call and that you have done BEST things mostly since then. Have you been thinking and preparing to enter the sweet pea contest? Here is a chance to be best, or one of the best, in growing this plant. We want you to grow the best sweet peas, but do not forget that we are more interested in you and the way you grow the peas than in the plants themselves. You must prepare the soil, plant the seeds and take care of the plants yourself. In the spring your sweet peas should hold up their heads, look you straight in the eyes and say, "We were raised squarely, according to the rules governing the contest; we stand for hon- esty and we deserve the prize." Look at a boy's work in the manual training shop or at a girl's problem in sewing, and much is told of their character and of the kind of man and woman the workers will make. So the sweet peas you grow and enter in this contest will speak of your character. Be sure that they speak of conscientious' work alone. GARDEN NOTES PLAN Ten Acre F *>«»* Figu Tin- Km« rson school gardeners of ley planted their seeds last week. The gardens are staked out neatly. An adjoining vacant lot has been sowed to dwarf sweet peas and nasturtiums. The whole plot of two vacant lots has been l. minded by giant Russian sunflowers. We expect to find the Emerson school children strong contestants for one «if the "rotating" banners. Siturday was market day at the Berkeley garden city. The vegetables were placed for sale on a new stand. AJbCTt Becker, the garden commis- si., n. -r. was in charge. Albert does ex- <••ll.ru work and is a good citizen. Soon >pe to have stars for each officer. Many new gardens have been started at the "city." Pins are to be given to the gardeners who work a plat contin- uously for 5 or 10 months. A piece of ground 20x100 has been set for a miniature ideal farm. The fifth grade boys of the Washington school, with their teacher. Miss Wil- son, come on Tuesday afternoons to work out the plan. Last Tuesday an area of wheat was planted. A part was broadcasted, a part drilled and a part broadcasted and rolled. A thor- ough study will be made of the factors which make for an ideal farm. (See figure A.) Several plats 10x20 have been set aside for flower gardens. The second grade children of the Lafayette school, Oakland, have formed an ideal farm in the schoolroom on a dirt table 4x6 feet. (See figure B.) Figure B. Miss Rogers and Miss Collier have taught the gardeners a great deal about plant life. The farmhouse, barn, chickens, stock, etc., were made in the art work. Alfalfa, wheat, corn and a small orchard are growing excellently. You Junior gardeners should take time some day to thank Mr. Morse of the Morse 8eed company. 48 Jackson street, San Francisco, for your free seeds. He has furnished free seeds for pawing Berkeley vacant lots. My Spring Garden HENRY WOOD, Le com-- School, High Fifth Grade At the beginning of the term I found my garden in a pretty bad siiape. There were a good many weeds and the plants were very crowded. The first time we went out to our gardens we took out the weeds and thinned out the plants. The ground was wet. so we could not do any culti- vating. We thinned out the lettuce plants and had a sale at which we made nearly $2. We sold most of the plants to the mothers of the children. We used some of this money to buy seeds for the sweet pea contest. There are still things to do, such as cultivating, pulling more weeds and transplanting, but it is still too wet to do much. We expect to have a pretty good crop later on in the term. Caterpillars Fifth My Sweet Peas JIMMY RHINEHART, Oakland, Franklin School, R Grade My home garden consists of a little plat of sweet peas. On Saturday, Janu- ary »j, I broke the soil. I dug it one and a half spade blades in depth. On January 8 I bought the seeds and put them to soak in a cup of lukewarm water. The next day, January 9, I made a trench the length of my plat and five inches deep. Next I put the seeds in the ground about an inch apart and put one inch of soil over them, leaving the other four inches open. The seeds came up on January 19. Every day. as my little plants grow, I gradually fill up the trench. A few days ago I thinned out the plants about a foot apart. My sweet peas are up about four inches now. JANE REILLY, Le Conte School, High Fifth Grade One day a girl in our room brought three caterpillars, which our teacher put in a jar. Soon after, when we looked at them, instead of caterpillars there were three cocoons. After that two of the caterpillars formed crysa- lids but the third died. The one that died I am going to tell you about. First a fly, named ichneumon, stung him in the back and laid its eggs there. After that the eggs .turned into grubs. The caterpillar then died and shriveled up, but the grubs grew larger. Soon after he was dead some brown pea shaped crysalids rolled out of his body. In a few days, when we went to look into the jar. instead of crysalids there were two flies. These flies were the ichneumon flies. The ichneumon fly is one of the cater- pillar's enemies. Sweet Pea Contest at School BROWNIE FRANCIS, Le Conte School, High Fifth Grade When we started our plat we first dug it up about two spades deep. Our plat is at the southwestern corner of the building. The sweet peas will climb up the side of the school build- ing* There is a lot near the school where some of our boys got some fertilizer. Tnis we spread over the plat. We also used a bone fertilizer. These two we dug into the soil, mixing them well. We did not do the seed planting un- til a few days after. The girls planted the seeds. They first made a trench about two inches deep. Then they put the seeds in about six inches apart. We expect to make a success of our sweet pea growing. Our seven varieties are Countess Spencer. Prima Donna. Hon. Mrs. E. Kenyon, Mrs. Willmott. Lady Grisel Hamilton. Dorothy Eckford and King Edward VII. A Word with the Teacher We hope that you have school gardens, not for the sake of the gardens alone, not because school gardens are fashionable, but because of the larger lessons toward which the gardens point. The school garden is a funda- mental factor in education. It should be potential in giving new direction to the old subjects. Its activities should be woven into the school work. Also, you should teach by experiment the principles underlying agriculture. Follow the classroom experiment into the garden, then into the community. Capillary action at work in glass tubes in the schoolroom is the same force which the boy gardener and the farmer must in like manner take cog- nizance. Far too much farming is being done by rule and not through the application of principles. Will you not give this new agricultural movement, which is so fundamental to our welfare, your close attention and study? It depends on you, the regular teachers, not on the university, not on the supervisors, for its success. You have done considerable this term. Plan to conserve the work indefinitely. The way of least resistance is to follow and to teach the lessons which are printed in The Junior. It is a task on the university division to print and to mail out 5,000 copies of The Junior Agriculturist; will you not see that the paper is read by the Juniors? Let it be used to give new direction to the composition work. Read and discuss the editorials with the children. Make a study of the "famous" pictures as they are issued. Have the children perform the experiments and recite on the lessons. University of California, College of Agriculture, Berkeley, California Agricultural Experiment Station, E. J. Wickson, Director Agricultural Education Entered as second-class matter, November, 1911. at the Postoffice at Berkeley. Cal. The Junior Agriculturist -^A LITTLE PAPER ISSUED TWICE A MONTH FOR THE JUNIOR GARDENERS OF CALIFORNIA Vol. 1. Hkrkeley. California. May 14, 1912 No. 17 LOOK FOR THE GOOD IN PEOPLE Soma Months ago certain school children started gardens. Anxiously oung plants to appear. Patience was Anally rewarded and the leaves timidly pushed the^r way through the «tll Bach day I isnn-ii the growth of the plants. But one morning indignation ran high, for the young vegetables ha. J been snipped off close to t in. I. Many were the threats that were made. All day long al" they watched for tlo », To the astonishment <»f the children the white crowned sparrows. be guilty. The class Immediately de- had done. I will close now. hoping all the chil- dren belonging to the Junior Agricul- turist club will have good luck with their plants. I am your junior friend. F'LORA Mac DONALD. Salada Beach, April 30, 1912. * * * Dear Sir: I am a member of the Junior Agriculturist and I received vour letter stating that you would like "to hear from me. The reason I did not write sooner was because I was waiting for my vegetables and flowers to sprout. I planted the following seeds: Carrots, radishes, kale, lettuce, onions and potatoes. The flower seeds are: Sweet William, sweet peas, daisies and California poppies. They are all growing nicely now. I have not received an issue of the Junior Agriculturist since March 14, 1912, and I would like to receive it regularly. As I am a pupil of the Hunters Point school I have my garden at home. The reason the pupils have no garden at our school is because the soil is very sterile and will not produce any crops. Hoping to receive my paper regularly. Yours truly, MAY DONOHUE. San Francisco, April 16, 1912. little gullies, and muddy streams came tearing down. If there were a farm at the bottom of the mountain it would be flooded. If there were a farm at the bottom of the forest side it would not be flooded out because there was nothing but a clear little stream there. Our Bulbs BY FREDERICK BYRNES, Seventh Grade, Pitta School The bulbs we planted last fall have all blossomed except one. One did not bloom because it was planted too deep. The largest bulb grew 29 inches high and the blossom was four inches in di- ameter. Each bulb had two blossoms, while one had three and another four blossoms. After tne blossoms had died we cut the leaves off about four inches above the ground. We are now watering them very sparingly waiting for the remaining leaves to die. When they die we will place the can and bulbs in a cool, dry place. Next October we will prepare a place outside, take the bulbs out of the cans, separate and plant them about six inches apart. An Experiment MILDRED TAYLOR, Oakland. 5 B Grade, Franklin School A few days ago we tried an experi- ment on our zinc lined sand table to show that forests prevent erosion of the soil. A few children made a mound of earth very solid, two feet in diameter and one and a half feet in height, to represent a mountain. Our teacher put some moss and little twigs in the ground to represent a forest and left the other sides bare. She took a sprinkling can and held it about two feet high and let the water come down as if it were rain. The results were the barren side had JIMMY RINERART, Oakland. 5 B Grade, Franklin School A few days ago we tried an experi- ment on our zinc lined sand table to show that forests prevent erosion of the soil. First, we made a mound of earth two feet in diameter and one and a half feet high. This mound was packed hard. Next on one of the sides we stuck in pine twigs to represent trees. and moss to represent underbrush. Then we took a sprinkling can and sprinkled water on the top of the mound to represent rain. The result was that the barren side had all the good, fertile soil and some of the pebbles washed down to its base, while the side with the forest was just the same, only under the growth the ground was soaked. This happened in the Sacramento val- ley on a larger scale when the moun- tain forests were cut down. Before the forests Were cut down, steamers used to go up the Sacramento river almost to Shasta, and now they can go only about half this distance. The reason for this is that since the forests have been cut the heavy rains have washed down fl'ne soil and loosened boulders, which, com- ing down, have filled up the river bed. Reading List 1. "Tree Stories." — L. E. Mulets. 2. "Little Brothers of the Air" — Mil- ler. 3. Pacific Nature Stories — H. Wag- ner. TREE STORIES Edith Warness. The book entitled "Tree Stories" is written by Lenore E. Mulets. It is very interesting. Some of the pupils in our class told the stories about the oak tree and the pussy willows. The following are some of the stories in the book: "Why the Poplar Branches Turn Upward," "Why the Aspen Leaves Always Tremble," and "Why Some Trees are Always Green." Since the sweet peas are maturing so slowly, the awards will be made in July at a potato bake to be held at the Ber- keley garden city. All contestants are invited to attend. Potatoes, radishes, lettuce, etc., will be furnished, but vis- itors will be asked to bring cakes and pies. The potatoes will be baked on the grounds by individuals and groups. We are looking forward to a good time. No- tice of the exact date for shipment of the peas and for the bake will be given later. Packing Sweet Peas for Exhibition With care in packing sweet pea> 111 do little harm. If you live | select the best t> p.< IL SI "i 30 sprays, and cut them the morning of the awards. Mai, will have to be shipped son. pea blossoms should be when d.kK.,1. Cut the sprays in the morning after the .lt-w bai or kfte in the afternoon. Cut the epra the peas lightly in water and set them a here the air is in motion (not in the sunlight nor in the dark). «'ut the ■prmyg when the h.w«r blossoms ur. . n and tl bioss.. open or win n maturity Is nearij ma should not "soft" and Break Ifoisten cotton and wrap the ends Of the stems and place the oiied sprays in past< >1 \es. (They may be ob- tained from florists, or a shoebox, cut down, will do I paper if the w.ather is hot. This keeps the plant moisture evaporating. Lay the sprays close together in rows and cover • tissue paper. Do not put too many sp box for I Qowera Pack the box with tissue paper t" h tome ti«h: place. < m arrival at the place of destination, pi is sofl water at once, and arrange in attractive transparent glasses. In a short time tli»' blossoms will awake in their freshness and beaut \. if possible, go with your sprays to the exhibition so thai yon may arrange them artistically as to color and stems. it Is planned to has. i pea content .lose during the first week in July. Junior Agriculturist sts us a ur. at deal to send you The Junior. If you want li term Oil out the blank and eend II to the editor, C a Btebblna, ■ley. Bdltor — Dat. I shall grow plants next term. Kindly keep my nam.- on your mailing ii«t t" receive the Junior Agrlculturli Name Addi School and Club Teacher's Name and Address. LESSON 7— Concluded. Pt°< facing one edge. Press the spade i f t • ■ is a riKht way ' ground as far as you can to use tools. When you are ready to (about «lx Inches from the edge) with- stand in one corner of your the handle forward and backward, then throw the dirt a few inches in front. Be sure to break up the clods thoroughly as each spadeful is turned over. Plants do not grow well in cloddy soil. Exercise 2, Chapter VI. taught you this. Continue spading across the garden, leaving a trench in front. Guided by the trench spade an- other row. Keep the trench open as each row is spaded. (Fig. 4.) With the whole plot spaded or at least the part spaded which you wish to saw at once, rake back and forth to ?>reak up any lumps still left. It is a good plan to push the rake from you, otherwise the soil will be drawn from the center to the edges. When finished the bed should be soft, a little higher in the center than at the edges. It should be raised about two inches. The ^dges should be in line with the stakes, string stretched around the plot will guide you in making straight edges. The School Garden — A diagram of school gardens will appear in the next issue. If you have a school garden your teacher will help you in planning Mid laying out the garden as a whole. An individual garden will be given you, you may work in a group with others, you may have an experimental garden or you may do all three. However, what you have learned will help in the school garden. Unless your teach- er has given you a plan to follow, work out some original way. Follow his instruction closely so as to grow the best vegetables and flowers. Any one can grow a radish, but any one can not grow the best radish. You and your neighbors should plan to arrange your vegetables and flowers so as to make the garden as a whole attractive. A row of corn next to a row of beets would not look well. Two rows not parallel would not only spoil the appearance of one garden but would make the whole plot less at- tractive. You and your neighbors must think of the good 01 all. Tools — You may ha\e to furnish your own tools. The school may fur- nish them. In either case, take care of them. Put them in a tool house or a box carefully and well cleaned. When not being used in the gardens lay hoes and rakes with the prongs down. Fo-ne one may fall or step on them. Probably there will not be enough to give each pupil a set. Re- member your neighbor and be satisfied with one tool. A tool broken by a gardener should be fixed or replaced by him. With the seed bed carefully spaded, raked and formed you are ready to plant seeds. Do not be in a hurry to plant, however. The most important step in growing the best radish is a perfect seed bed. After the seeds are in little can be done to improve the bed. If clods persist rake then into a pile. Dig a hole in one corner of the garden and bury them. QUESTIONS 1. What should determine the choice of the garden plat? 2. -How far apart should the rows be? 3. Why not plant corn and beets close together? 4. Give some rules for the growing of flowers. 5. Explain the proper way to spade and to rake. 6. Describe an ideal seed bed. 7. What steps does a farmer take in preparing a good seed bed? 8. What should each pupil bear in mind to make the whole plat atractive? 9. What is the most important step in growing the best vegetable or flower? HOWE STUDIES 1. Why does a farmer select well drained land when buying? 2 Why will ordinary crops not grow on wet lowlands? 3. How might swampy land be re- claimed? 4. How far apart does the farmer plant corn and wheat? How are the seeds sown? 5. How might your own and the homes of others living near be made more beautiful? Make a rough plan of a flower scheme for your home. 6. What will be the cost of such a garden as shown in figure 2? Find out what vegetables and flowers are worth and estimate the profit to be gained. 7. What methods are used to irrigate orchards, gardens and fields in your vicinity? 8. Study figure 5 carefully, for this 10 acre farm will be referred to often. What would it cost to fence this farm? How many years will a good fence last? What kind of posts is it best to use? UN 20 1912 * ** University of California, College of AgricufiAUfSSBceley, California Agricultural Experiment Station, E. J. Wickson, Director Agricultural Education Entered as second-class matter. November. 1911. at the Postoffice at Berkeley. Cal. The Junior Agriculturist ^-<\ LITTLE PAPER ISSUED TWICE A MONTH FOR THE JUNIOR GARDENERS OF CALIFORNIA Vol. I. Berkeley. California. June 14, 1912 No. 18 What Are You Going To Do for 1915 In the Junior Call we wrote you about Johnnie, who had no right green apples because he made so many people unhappy. We told you that '«ne should care for a cold, since others might be made sick. A h boy or girl or selfish parents will not agree with us, for they think that they can do anything they please. There is some excuse for Y>u hoys and girls, but no excuse for parents and others for so much of self. Truly, the man or woman who thinks only of himself or If is not quite grown up. There are nearly 200 children who work in the Berkeley Garden Each has an individual garden. Last week we walked through the gardens. We found a few plats full of weeds. The presence of weeds two stories: (1) That the o\rners of the weedy gardens are not good workers, and (2) that they are selfish. They have no right to ajlow the weeds to grow. One weed will grow thousands of seeds, each of which will make a new weed. Thus because of one selfish boy or girl all of the other children will have to do extra work to keep weeds from their gardens. Not only does selfishness cause their neighbors extra work, but a weedy, unsightly plat spoils the appearance of the whole garden and makes visitors feel that we are all careless. How much better if these selfish gardeners would serve the whole city by keeping their plats clean and attractive. Such thoughtless gardeners we may excuse, yet not praise in our Garden city, for the boys and girls are young, but we have no excuse nor any praise for the selfish owner of a vacant lot overrun with weeds. He or she furnishes a breeding place for the weeds, which later all of the neighbors have to fight. The unsightly lot helps to- keep strangers from locating in the city, for they feel that individuals who will not treat their neighbors right will not vote right. Thus property adjoining such a lot is of less value. Why do these individuals not grow up and serve their city? In 1915 thousands and thousands of visitors are coming to Cali- fornia. We want many of them to stay, and we want all of the others to speak a good word for California when they return home. Let us all our >tate by making the cities and the country beautiful. If each city school would beautify and make useful one vacant lot, if the chil- dren of each rural district would beautify their own schoolyard, grow and plant trees along the country roads and see that fences and homes were improved, what a great amount of service they might do. Think about it. you 10,000 Juniors, talk about it, for we may ask you all to take hold soon for California. Junior Agriculturist It costs us a great deal to send you the Junior. If you want it again next term fill out the blank and send it to the editor, C. A. Stebbins, Berkeley. Date Dear Editor — I shall grow plants next term. Kindly keep my name on your mailing list to receive the Junior Agriculturist. Name Address School and Club Teacher's Name and Address. Packing Sweet Peas for Exhibition With care in packing- sweet peas a 1? to 15 hour journey will do little harm. If you live near the place of exhibition, select the best type flowers, 20 or 30 sprays, and cut them the morning of the awards. Many flowers will have to be shipped some distance. Sweet pea blossoms should be dry when packed. Cut the sprays in the morning after the dew has dried up or late in the afternoon. Cut the sprays at least two hours before packing. Place the peas lightly in water and set them in a dry, light plaee where the air is in motion (not in the sunlight nor in the dark). Cut the sprays when the lower blossoms are well open and the top blossoms half open or when maturity is nearly reached. The stems should be woody, not "soft" and weak. Moisten cotton and wrap the ends of the stems and place the dried sprays in pasteboard boxes. (They may be ob- tained from florists; or a shoebox, cut down, will do.) Line the boxes with waxed paper if the weather is hot This keeps the plant moisture from evaporating. Lay the sprays close together in rows and cover each with tissue paper. Do not put too many sprays in a box, for fear of bruising the flowers. Pack the box with tissue paper to keep the blos- soms tightly in place. On arrival at the place of destination, place the sprays in clean, soft water at once, and arrange in attractive transparent glasses. In a short time the blossoms will awake in their freshness and beauty. If possible, go with your sprays to the exhibition so that you may arrange them artistically as to color and stems. It is planned to have the sweet pea contest close during the first week in July. GARDEN NOTES \W visited the Melrose school gar- state pays supervisors of agriculture in dens last week. Mr. Mortensen, with the elementary schools. Thus his willing- workers, has converted a schools ai :ig of dir. weedy vacant lot into an attractive i communities. We hope sin- spot. He intends next term to enlarge cerely that the legislature of Califor- nia idea of pupil self-government and n,a at its next session will to extend it to the school ga A plan possible in California. The San market and a banking institution are Leandro school is a model In to be established. A definite plan | ipal. whereby the activities in the gardens may be woven into the school subjects * # # Is to be worked out. Miss McDermott of San Francisco is * * * doing an excellent piece of work Principal Crane and his school board has over 300 children entered in the are interested in gardens and agricul- sweet pea contest. It in. ms nil ture. We hope that the school boards the future of San Francisco to brln^c of Melrose. San Leandro and Decoto children close to the soil and growing will co-operate in employing a auper- things. The closer a man gets to the visor of agriculture. In Oregon the soil the purer he la. SWEET PEA CONTESTANTS The awards which are indicated belaw will be made at the Berkeley Garden city on Saturday, June 29. A potato bake will be held at the Garden city the day the awards are made. All contestants and their parents are invited to attend. The Berkeley gardeners will furnish potatoes and other vegetables. The visitors are requested to bring their own bread, pies, cakes, etc. " For the noon meal come early. Be sure to follow Instructions in pages of The Junior as given as to shipping sweet peas, if you do not bring them yourselves. Please prepay all packages of flowers and mail or express them so they will arrive in Berkeley on June 28. Be sure to send your diary. See that the sweet peas are labeled with your name and address. Prizes will be awarded from the following score card: Points. For freshness and good ojolor 6 For number of flowers to stem (four) 4 For length of stem (approximately 18 inches) 4 For arrangement of flowers on the stem 4 For size of bloom — approximate width of standard, 1%; Spencers, 1 hi ; and others 4 Neatness, etc., in diary keeping t Total -.26 Prizes will be awarded on the 20 best sprays of sweet peas, not on a great number. The prizes are as follows: First prize for the best 20 sprays grown by a California Junior Gardening club . .$10.00 Second prize 5.00 Third prize 2.50 First prize for the best 20 sprays grown by an individual California Junior gardener 10.00 Second prize, a set of gardening tools 5.00 Third prize 2.60 The next 16 prize winners 1-00 each One or more of the following varieties must have been grown: 1. King Edward VII; red. 2. Dorothy Eckford; white. 3. Prima Donna; pink. 4. Lady Grlsel Hamilton; lavender. 6. Miss Willmott; orange pink. 6. Hon. Mrs. E. Kenyon; primrose. 7. The Countess Spencer; giant pink. Flowers grown in hothouses are not eligible. After the exhibit the flowers will be sold: (1) To help pay the expenses of the exhibit and vegetable luncheon; (2) to further the Junior gardening work. Money to Be Changed Into Glen Park School Banner DANIEL LYNCH The children of the Glen Park school have taken great interest in the agri- cultural movement. We have planted various kinds of vegetables, including parsley, onions, carrots, beets, turnips, radishes, lettuce, parsnips, endives, peas, beans and muskmelons. The day after May day I read the fcllowing in The Call: "Some school without a banner had its pretty girls in bright hued gowns, and on each head a bright pink bow on 01 e side and a pale blue on the other." That school whicn was so unfortu- nate as to be without a banner is, I am sorry to say. the Glen Park school. But u shall be without a banner no longer, for the enthusiastic gardeners have decided to buy a banner with the money derived from the sale of vege- tables. A few of the children in one of the smaller classes proposed this p:an to Miss McDcrmott and it was met with approval, not only by Miss McDer- mott, but also by Miss Wade, our prin- cipal, and all the gardeners. We have only sold our radishes, as the other vegetables are not large enough to dispose of. Last week the eighth grade pupils thinned their turnips and found sale for the greens. I have been told that these greens, when cooked, form a good substitute for spinach. We planted onion seeds twice, but somehow or other we did not have luck with them and therefore were forced to p'ant onion sets. W e transplanted our lettuce and beets and the first two days they looked as if they would not grow, but on the third day I was surprised to see them lift their heads. Some of, the children were not successful in their trans- planting, because they handled the plants too roughly. Each class is allowed one hour a week to devote to its vegetables.. For instance I, as president, choose four children to work in the garden on Tues_ day for half an hour; and four different children on Thursday for the same length of time. I choose the children from the B eighth grade on Tuesday and from the A eighth grade on Thurs- day, thus giving every gardener a chance to work in the garden. All the other classes do likewise, al- though they do not all choose the same day. We have the following amount in the treasury: Eighth grade $0.05 Seventh grade 15 B sixth grade .10 A sixth grade 20 A fifth grade 20 B fifth grade 05 Fourth grade 15 Third grade 15 Total $1.05 This amount was obtained from the sale of radishes and turnip greens only. Energetic Alhambra Gardeners MARY SUTTON In Alhambra we have four ward schools and one central high school. The high school and three of the other schools have school gardens. At the Garfield Avenue school we have two garden plats. One belongs to the lower grades and the other to the higher grades. Besides these school gardens there are 181 pupils who have home gardens. The pupils of the sixth grade in this school have organized a junior garden- ing club. There are 25 members of our club. We receive the Junior Agricul- turist. We (the club) have sold 55 cents' worth of radishes from our garden this year and will have peas, turnips, beans and onions ready for market before the close of school in June. This is our first year in gardening. We like the work. The Week's Reading List 1. Plants and Their Children — Mrs. Dana. 2. Little Flower People — Hale. 3. Seed Travels — C. Weed. A Vacant Lot in North San Francisco Before Beautifying by a California Junior Garden Club.