THE USES OF THE SCHCOL G4EDEN HARVEST 



By LAURA E. WOODWARD, Supervisor of Nature-Study and School Gardening-, City 



Training School, Trenton, N. J. 



The school garden as a source of material for nature study, 

 botany and drawing has proved a valuable asset to teacher and 

 pupils. But when the products of this garden can be made to 

 contribute to a definite end which is a logical outgrowth not other- 

 wise obtained, its value is greatly increased. 



For some years, one of our city schools has carried out the 

 plan of having each grade plant in the school garden certain 

 seeds not planted by any other grade in the school. The kinder- 

 gartens plant pumpkin seeds in the spring and the products are 

 harvested the following autumn when the planters reach the first 

 grade. 



One year three small pumpkins survived the vicissitudes of 

 summer, and in the autumn supplied a young first grade assist- 

 ant with material for pies which were brought to school, cut into 

 one hundred pieces and distributed to that number of children 

 belonging to the two first-year classes. The occasion was made 

 a genuine celebration and, in addition to other lessons, many 

 little points in etiquette were incidentally given by the versatile 

 teacher in charge. 



Last year the kindergarten again planted pumpkin seeds, 

 and when autumn came there were eight fine pumpkins on the 

 vines. The school was to have a fair just before Thanksgiving; 

 so it was decided to ask some friends to donate the making ot 

 the pumpkins into pies in order that they might be sold at the 

 fair. This was done and five dollars were added to the proceeds 

 of the occasion. 



The first grade class has always been able to plant and 

 gather radishes in abundance before the end of the school term. 

 The second grade has always been able to reap a good quantity 

 of lettuce. Last year, besides furnishing material for a number 

 of informal lunches and a generous supply to each of the eighty 

 members of the grade, these two classes assisted in brightening 

 the tables of some more formal occasions of the school. Last 

 March the third grade studied the growth and development of 

 peas planted in sawdust. But in order to see them mature under 

 normal conditions, two eighteen foot rows were planted in the 

 garden the latter part of April. In June, the class gathered a 

 ■crop much larger and better than the highest expectations. This 



