274 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIU'J 



rated into the organization of the school. 

 As one writer states, "Every subject of the 

 time-table should be' modified by gar- 

 den work, and the instruction in almost all 

 of these should be improved by being more 

 real and vivid and more stimulating through 

 manual labor." Many persons will ask : 

 " Of what value are school gardens ?" In 

 answer to this question, the value may be 

 stated concisely as follows : (a) It incul- 

 cates habits of order, care, neatness and 

 method, and forces the child into a habit of 

 constant observation ; (b) it brings the mind 

 into closer communion with nature ; (c) 

 teacher and scholar are brought into closer 

 touch; (d) physical recreation of a helpful, 

 pleasurable nature is provided; (e) it pro- 

 vides a hobby that may keep many from less 

 desirable occupations during their leisure 

 time; (f) a greater interest is taken in gar- 

 den work in the community ; (g) indirectly, 

 a love for home and its environments is cre- 

 ated; (h) it gives boys and girls the rudi- 



ments of an industrial training which may 

 be of value in later life. 



From the instructional point of view 

 school gardens are valuable on account of 

 the large number of special studies which 

 may be carried on by the children in connec- 

 tion with them. Some of these special 

 studies are: (a) the broad distinction be- 

 tween soils — the different kinds, and their 

 differences as far as can be made out with- 

 out too elaborate experiments ; (b) the ger- 

 mination of a large number of seeds, and the 

 way the different seedlings get out of their 

 seed coats; (c) the development of the dif- 

 ferent flowers, the formation of the fruit and 

 seed of the garden plants ; (d) studies of in- 

 sects, birds, and fungus diseases which are 

 common in every garden; (e) the record of 

 weather conditions which influence the 

 growth of plants, and the use of such instru- 

 ments as the barometer and thermometer; 

 (f) improvement of the soil by spade work, 

 manuring and draining; (g) how plants are 



Fig 2609. School Gardens at Hartford. 



