80 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW 



each locality by the teacher. The above plan merely is given as a 

 hint to have it as simple as possible, for remember we are only 

 working with children, not professional gardeners. 



However a scheme of this kind allows a fairly equal chance for 

 all for even a child having but a small plot and not being able to raise 

 a large variety of vegetables to enter in the display class, could at 

 least grow two or three varieties such as beets, carrots, etc. and 

 thereby enter in the single variety class. 



Plans for the transportation of the exhibits should be worked 

 out in advance and always with the idea of avoiding all unnecessary 

 handling thus insuring the products arriving in a fresh condition. 

 Autumn leaves, corn stalks, etc., need be che only decorations 

 for the real object is to show what has been accomplished by the 

 pupils, the decorations merely acting as the frame of the picture. 



Have the products judged by an expert from your Agricultural 

 College and thus avoid any dissatisfaction that perhaps might arise 

 with a local judge. Have the fair advertised well in the local press, 

 invitations may be printed and this work can well be done by 

 the printing department of your High school, while the Manual 

 Training department can add its share in the construction of 

 the tables for the exhibits. 



The teaching of Elementary Agriculture in our grade schools 

 is surely one means of keeping the schools in constant touch 

 with a number of the pupils, thus guiding their vacation, but 

 never intruding so far as to interfere with their pleasure while the 

 fair offers a place in which their work can be judged. The bulk 

 of the garden work, coming as it does when schools are closed, 

 does not in any way conflict with the child's book studies, 

 nevertheless the child is learning a valuable lesson for he is taught 

 to know and respect the soil which feeds him, something of the 

 plant life, the value of money for he has shared in earning it, 

 and finally he begins to realize that he is a producer and that 

 he has contributed in a small way to his support. The past war 

 seemed to arouse us for the time being as to its possibilities and 

 gardening was then rapidly introduced into our schools. Are we 

 teachers of gardening going to keep it there? I sometimes wonder. 

 If so, we will have to give the best we have at all times and use 

 every means available and in parting may I again urge that of the 

 School Fair as one of the best means at hand. 



