tkafton] NATURE-STUDY IN NEW JERSEY 213 



These will be used to decorate the school grounds and the borders 

 of the garden ; and the extra plants will be given to the children 

 to set out in their home grounds. 



In Jersey City school-garden work has been done for several 

 years at Public School No. 17 under the Principalship of Miss 

 Martha G. Evans, who contributes the following notes: 



"Our first attempt was made in 1901, the garden plot being 

 made on or in a "dump ground." The pupils did most of the 

 gardening before nine o'clock and during the noon hour, very 

 little of the school day being given to this out-of-door work. 

 The children's observations gave excellent material for thought, 

 to be expressed both in oral and written work, and they wove 

 them into stories, illustrated by sketches from the plant in 

 hand, thus giving an opportunity to use one of the best 

 methods in drawing. 



"In the spring of 1905 the janitor spaded and prepared a 

 sunny space, 15 by 50 feet, and the pupils of the lowest grade 

 had a garden. The little folks planted the seeds, watered, 

 weeded and daily watched the development, and took entire care 

 of this, their own garden, under the guidance of their able 

 teacher, Miss Mary C. Davies. When the radishes matured, 

 each child of this class pulled with great pride, the largest one 

 he could find to use for an object lesson or to take home to 

 mother. All classes in the department were taken to the garden 

 several times during the season to observe and study the points 

 of plant work as outlined for each grade in our course of study. 

 Each pupil of the department had at least one radish to use as an 

 object for drawing, or story writing." 



"The last week of June was one of delight to all the garden 

 workers, when the peas and string beans were ready to harvest. 

 The little ones of the baby class, all on the lawn, with the vines, 

 picked and shelled the peas. The teacher cooked them and that 

 afternoon a feast was enjoyed. To the child it was a feast from 

 MY garden." 



"A few flowering plants were also cultivated and they were in 

 full bloom and splendor on our return in September, but the 

 children enjoy the vegetable garden more than the flower 

 garden." 



A long felt need in the State is now met by the opening of the 

 new normal school at Montclair. A course in nature-study will 



