By Transfer

NOV 21 1916

Rural School Leaflet

[FOR BOYS AND GIRLS]

Published monthly by the New York State College of Agriculture at Cornell University, from September to May, and entered as second-class matter September 30, 1907, at the Post Office at Ithaca, New York, under the Act of Congress of July 16, 1894. L. H. Bailey, Director

ALICE G. MCCLOSKEY, Editor

ARTHUR D. DEAN, C. EDWARD JONES, G. F. WARREN, and C. H. TUCK, Advisers

It is night. Wild, deep winds are out and rain falls on the great white road beyond my door. The leafless vines strike against my window. The old house is filled with strange sounds, but to me they are not lonely sounds. I have loved these outdoor voices through all the years, and in truth I find them goodly company. When they speak to me by roaring down my chimney or by splashing on my great white road or by shaking. the slender vines against my window, I answer them in a deep, glad way, so full of freedom do I feel and so full of joy.

To-night I am letting the sweeping winds take me to the homes of boys and girls in country places. The young folk cannot see me, not one, but

I can see them even by very dim light. Some are rosy and round; some are pale and thin; some are tall; some are short; some are cheerful; some sad; some very good-natured-and how we like to have them about; some very "grouchy," and, indeed, we do not want them about. Then there are the boys and girls who are busy and happy, useful to every oneboys and girls who do something for the family each day, making themselves necessary in the home. And still others? Oh, they will wake up soon, for this is no world for selfish, idle folk.

Now all who are not among the idle ones will read this Leaflet and follow at least one of the suggestions made for boys and girls living in the country.

Are you interested in poultry? Begin this year to make plans to raise some of your own. Father and mother will be glad to help, and you can take your problems to Professor Rice here at the State College and get many helpful suggestions from him.

Do you like bird study? Ask your teacher to let you see the September Leaflet for teachers, and read what is said on this subject. All boys and girls in New York State will this year study the following birds: The hen, downy woodpecker, robin, bobolink, redstart, red-eyed vireo, blackbird, marsh wren, turkey, and owl. The older boys and girls should get into the habit of keeping a record of the birds they see. I wish every one

of you would try to find some book on birds, either in the school library or in your homes, and read the descriptions of the birds you are to study

this year. It will help you in identiutfying some that are unfamiliar to you.

Build a bird house. In the illustraition you will see one kind. The birds I will like it as well as a very handsome one. They do not approve of fresh paint, nd and the birds that will build their nests in houses will not care for one in which the doors are too large.

For the

The downy woodpecker

Things to remember in constructing bird houses. The houses should be built on poles or buildings in somewhat secluded places, and the majority of birds prefer a house not more than twelve feet from the ground. The size of the doorway is important. wren and the chickadee the opening should be an inch auger hole, and for the other birds that build in houses it should be one and one-half inches. Some birds, such as the martins, tree swallows, and pigeons, like to live near one another. For these birds a little apartment house may be made, allowing floor space six by six inches for each pair. There should be but one door to each compartment. Be sure to build a bird house and have it in place by next February. Are you interested in the weather? In the sky by day or night? In sunlight and in wondering about your shadow as it stays with you while the world is light? In the teachers' Leaflet for September there is a lesson on storms. Ask your teacher to help you to understand what is happening in cloudland when the storms come. I think the study of weather is best of all. I hope that while you are out studying the weather you will begin to wonder about the sky and the hills, the rivers and the far-away mountains, the mystery of the far-away starlight. As soon as you begin to wonder, you will begin to ask questions and to find out something about the outdoor things that have a never-ending interest for thoughtful boys and girls.

A bird house

The strong

We want you to learn to be in tune with the weather. people of the world have loved the rain as well as the sunshine; they have

loved the plains as well as the hills; they have been at home in the great outdoors in company with sweeping winds. You, too, must find these real things that, I think, have helped to make men and women great and deep. You will find in this Leaflet a letter that I hope you will answer. Thousands of boys and girls in New York State write to us very often, and since you are not idle you will take advantage of the opportunity to correspond with some one in your State College. This year your letters. will be written to the young man who sends a letter to you in this Leaflet. If you should come to know him, as you may some day, you will find that he cares very much for the outdoor world and for all that country life gives. He also cares very much for boys and girls and is looking forward to your letters. He may not be able to answer all letters personally, but whenever a Leaflet for boys and girls is sent out you will find in it his letter to you. Address all letters to Mr. Edward M. Tuttle, College of Agriculture, Ithaca, N. Y. Ask your teacher to let you write a letter each month to Mr. Tuttle during your English period. To all who write three letters, we shall send a picture.

What makes the sunset red, the sky blue, the grass green, or the scarlet spot on the blackbird's wing? And why is our shadow with us all day long when the sun shines? These are hard questions; but we live under the blue sky, we see the sunset colors almost every evening, and we never can get away from our shadow while the sun is shining, no matter how fast we run. Would' you like to know something about light, shadows, and colors? Some persons think that children cannot understand such things; but let us try. Sunlight has in it every color you can think of except black, which is not a color at all but the absence of all colors; and the strange thing about sunlight is that when all the colors you can think of are mixed together in the right proportion as they are in sunlight, they make white. White is all colors mixed together and black is no color at all.