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STATE HOKTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 



Eva D. McBain, Grand Rapids : The seeds from D. M. Ferry & Co. were 

 received in early spring, but owing to the lateness of the season and the low 

 ground where it was necessary to have the flower garden the seeds could not be 

 planted until quite late. We followed as nearly as possible the directions for 

 planting received with the seeds. The sunflowers were planted in the back 

 part of the yard, as also were some of the vines, which were to hide the fence 

 and give a background to the school yard. Other vines were planted under 

 the windows. Those at the north seemed to do better than at the east or west, 

 probably because at the north it was more moist and the plants did not receive 

 the scorching rays of the sun. The castor beans were planted in the most 

 sightly corner of the yard on each side of the path. The plan of the flower 

 garden was circular in form, 30 feet in diameter, and consisted of five beds — a 

 central cruciform bed, around which was a path separating it from the four 

 outer beds, which were separated from each other by paths entering the 

 garden, thus : At the center of the middle bed 

 is a perennial furnished by one of the pupils ; 

 around this, meeting the inner corners of the 

 cross, is a circle of Jacob's coat. Pansy 

 plants were given to us, with which we made 

 an outside border for one bed. The remaining 

 seeds were arranged and planted in the garden 

 as would give the best views from the school- 

 rooms and the street. Until school closed we 

 had no help in the garden outside of the school. 

 The hardest part of the work was done by the 

 assistaot teacher. A lively interest was mani- 

 fested in the garden by the entire school, and 

 all were willing workers. At the close of the term (June 

 were still small, but large enough to have been weeded twice, 

 hoed the day before school closed. The young ladies of the school appointed 

 a day on which they would meet to work in the flower garden, and they cared 

 for it, with the assistance and advice of the director, during the summer vaca- 

 tion. Flowers in abundance were culled from its beds, and seeds were care- 

 fully saved at the opening of the fall term with which to continue the work 

 another year. 



In the district there was considerable interest shown toward our work, and 

 the flowers have been admired by all who have seen them. The labor given to 

 the flower garden has been well repaid ; the results are highly satisfactory. 

 Bone dust was given us by a manufacturing firm in the district, and this added 

 greatly to our success, for our soil was very poor. As it would give children 

 much more satisfaction could they see marked results of their labor sooner, I 

 think it would be an excellent plan, in districts where school closes early in 

 summer, to start in hot beds or cold frames a part of the seeds of such plants 

 as would bear transplanting. Besides early flowers this would give the children 

 an important lesson in forcing plants. Instead of this, early flowering peren- 

 nials could be cultivated for the spring and the seeds planted at the usual time 

 for fall flowering. I think we should by all means encourage the schools in 

 cultivating flowers on the school grounds. Besides the present enjoyment and 

 culture derived by the children, the influence it has on them will be lasting; 

 the results will not end at the fading of the flowers. 



Mrs. E. E. Haius, Howell: Dry weather and an early closing of term led to 

 imperfect success in our flower venture, but we are all glad we tried. The 



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th) the plants 

 The garden was 



