evans] SCHOOL AND HOME GARDENING IN OREGON 51 



pupil above the third grade with an individual plot varying in 

 size from 40 to 10S square feet. Those below the fourth grade 

 usually worked together by rooms. In several schools the number 

 of interested children so far exceeded the area of ground available 

 that every room had only a section and each pupil one or two rows. 



No two gardens were laid out exactly alike. Every one had 

 some distinguishing feature or arrangement, decoration or varie- 

 ties of vegetables grown. The size varied from 30 x 40 feet to 

 two acres, the average being about 15,000 square feet. 



About two-thirds of the gardens were continued into the vaca- 

 tion period. This was the case especially in districts where most 

 of the pupils spent their vacations at home. In those gardens 

 later maturing vegetables, such as potatoes, beans, corn, pop- 

 corn, pumpkins, late cabbage, cauliflower, and tomatoes were 

 planted, in addition to the early maturing vegetables. Commit- 

 tees of pupils were appointed by the principals before school 

 closed. These committees met with the supervisor for garden 

 work about twice a month. All neglected plots were taken in 

 charge by the committees who, in return for their work, were 

 entitled to the vegetables. The total value of the products grown 

 in the school and home gardens, as nearly as can be ascertained, 

 totalled at least $7,000.00 at market prices. The pupils actually 

 sold about $400.00 worth to persons outside their own families. 

 This was disposed of at the public markets and locally in the 

 districts. Many parents stimulated youthful interest by purchas- 

 ing their children's products at market prices. The marketing 

 end was a very interesting and helpful feature of the work. The 

 work for the season ended September 1. 



Several gardens were departures from the ordinary type of 

 school garden. For instance, the St. Stephen's School had a 

 popcorn and pumpkin garden. This plot, covering an area of 

 one-fifth of an acre, produced fourteen bushels of finely matured 

 white rice popcorn, in spite of the fact that it was poor soil filled 

 in when the streets were graded many years ago. These excep- 

 tional results were secured by the use of eight tons of manure, 

 400 pounds of ground limerock, a ton of wood ashes, and a very 

 thorough preparation of the soil. The ground was plowed twice, 

 being well disked before and after. Many pupils raised their 

 own cabbage, cauliflower, and tomato plants at home, in the 

 schoolrooms, or in small hotbeds or cold frames. 



