114 



state: pomologicaIv society. 



ferns and a few hardy cultivated flowers ; but in the spring of 

 1900 a kitchen garden was started on a vacant lot in the rear of 

 the school yard, and has been continued successfully up to the 

 present time. 



To the Massachusetts Horticultural Society is due, in a large 

 measure, the success of the George Putnam school garden and 

 the establishment of other similar gardens in Xew England. In 

 1891, and every year since, this society has offered annual pre- 

 miums of fifteen, twelve and ten dollars, respectively, for the 



School Gardens on the grounds of the U. S. Department of 

 Agriculture at V^^ashington. These boys and girls kept their 

 gardens free from weeds and watered them only with a rake. 



three best school gardens entered for competition. The first 

 prize has been taken every year by the George Putnam school^ 

 and I am told that the fifteen dollars thus secured has covered 

 all expenses of the garden. These three annual prizes have 

 been directly instrumental, also, in the establishment of school 

 gardens at ?^Iedford, Wenham and other towns in Massachu- 

 setts, and the reports of these gardens, published by the society 

 in its Transactions, have influenced the inauguration of similar 

 • work in other states, until now we find gardens not only in con-- 



