Sh) 
Certain gardens in the larger section and portions of the border 
were set aside for silver pin work. I am often asked about the 
requirements for bronze and silver pins, and bronze and silver 
medals. In early years we used to give a certificate to each child 
completing a course. By a course we mean a series of lessons 
forming a complete unit, such as the series beginning in the fall 
and ending at Christmas time; or beginning in the spring and end- 
ing just before the period of the outdoor garden. In each series 
— 
we have a number of courses conducted simultaneously. In order 
to reduce the amount of matter in the Prospectus of 1935-36, I 
stated on pp. 208-9 that our work was divided into four series, fall, 
winter, spring, and summer. ‘This was somewhat misunderstood 
since it was interpreted as a course meaning just one class per 
Saturday. Since 190 children registered, it should have been plain 
that this figure represented registration in a number of classes. 
This particular year the 200 children were divided into six classes, 
which, by simple arithmetic, means about thirty children to a group. 
In spite of the arithmetic, it does not work this way. For example, 
this fall, forty children about eight years old were in one group— 
far too many for the wor 
— 
k we plan to do. The original program 
of 1913-14 was arranged for groups of not more than twenty- 
four children to the group in order that the individual could re- 
ceive the benefit of personal attention and aid. When the numbers 
increase without the number of instructors increasing, a part of 
the value of the work 1s lost. : 
After a child has finished three of these courses he is entitled 
to a bronze pin. [or this he pays fifteen cents. The bronze pin 
marks the completion of three courses. A bronze medal is given 
for good work in the outdoor garden. The winner must be at least 
ten years of age and have done good work in the garden and ac- 
quired a certain amount of information on common flowers, vege- 
tables, and other nature subjects. He must have given during 
those years some time in useful help to the garden. This takes 
the form of filling penny packets of seed, of helping weed the 
borders which are held in common with other children, and if he 
be an older child, assisting with the little children. 
After the bronze medal has been won (and it is to be noted here 
that there is no competition in this work except competition with 
