2. Nature of soil and water conditions
3. Common uses of each species of evergreen
4. Collection of wood specimens and cones.
WOOD SPECIMENS
Specimens should be uniform in size and should show bark on one side and heart wood as well as the outside, or sap wood. They should be about six inches long, two inches wide on the side having the bark, and should gradually come to an edge toward the pith, or centre. When seasoned, one side and one edge should be polished and then oiled or varnished. Specimens of the wood of the deciduous trees may also be prepared during the winter.
FRUITS
During the winter months, some time should be devoted to reading and discussing articles on general farming and fruit growing. Such articles may be taken from books, magazines, or newspapers, and may be supplied partly by the teacher and partly by the pupils. These articles will be appreciated by the pupils all the more because of their studies of fruit trees during the season. Such topics as the following may be discussed:
1. Best kind of apples, plums, bush fruits, and strawberries. Reports from the Dominion and Provincial Departments of Agriculture.
2. Method of raising fruit trees—from seed, grafting, and budding.
3. Demonstrations in pruning. This may be done in early spring by taking a class to a neighbouring orchard.