212 



THE NA TU RE- STUD Y. RE VIE W 



[4:7 — OCT., igo8 



running over the summer and into the fall, we have decided upon 

 the use of the spring vegetable garden as best suited to our needs 

 and sufficient in both time and opportunity for this phase of 

 nature-study. We make little of the garden as a means of 

 manual training, except to insist that whatever is done shall be 

 done well." 



In Passaic the garden work has been carried on in connection 

 with three schools. In one school, where most of the children 

 had home gardens, a large bed was planted in mass for decorative 



effect; in the 

 other two 

 schools, the 

 garden was 

 d i v i d e d up 

 into individ- 

 ual plots and 

 the time 

 assigned to 

 nature-study 

 was employed 

 entirely in 

 working in 

 the garden. 

 The planting 

 has been re- 

 in a school -garden at Passaic, N. J. Stricted large- 

 ly to early maturing vegetables and flowers, but this season 

 two experiments are to be tried in the summer care of 

 the gardens. In one case committees of children are to be 

 appointed to come each week to care for the garden ; in the 

 other case, a prize is to be given. to the child having the best 

 garden at the opening of school in fall, and those who wish to 

 care for their gardens during the summer may have the use of 

 any land left by the other children. 



At one side of the garden have been set out plants of the 

 grape, strawberry, blackberry, raspberry, currant and goose- 

 berry; and seeds of apple, pear, cherry, peach and plum have 

 been planted. These plants will be used to teach the children 

 the various methods of propagation used to raise these fruits. 

 The seeds of a few shrubs and perennial vines were also planted. 



