SCHOOL GARDENS 



PROF. W. LOCHHEAD, O. A. C, GUELPH. 



SIGNS are not wanting that school 

 gardens will play a more prominent 

 part in the education of the child in 

 the near future than they have done in the 

 past. In Europe the influence of school 

 gardens has been felt for many years, and 

 most of the governments of northern 

 Europe have provided liberally for their 

 maintenance. In Austria the school g:ir- 

 den is maintained for the specific purpose of 

 improving the general education and in- 

 struction of the scholar. There it is " i 

 large outdoor slate on the soil to put livin^^ 

 things on to be rubbed out." In Sweden 

 it aims to give an indvstrial training along 

 with a general education, and it has done 



much to promote agriculture. In Prussia 

 the school garden plays an important part 

 in the industrial training of the child, and 

 has very materially advanced the fruit- 

 growing industry of that country. In 

 France and Belgium, school gardens have 

 done much to promote the growth of flow- 

 ers, vegetables, and fruit. 



Some educationists believe that the Aus- 

 trian ideal is the best, as it does not attempt 

 to give an industrial training along with the 

 primary education. Whatever may be our 

 views regarding this matter, this much is 

 clear that the main purpose of the school 

 garden should be to improve the instruction 

 given in the school. It should be incorpo- 



FiG. 26f8. Broadview Boys' Garden, Toronto 



