THE SCHOOL GARDEN. 295 



This is done on wet days and at other times when work in 

 the garden is impossible. So many articles that are dear 

 to buy but quite easy and inexpensive to make are con- 

 tinually being wanted for the garden, that a workshop is 

 an absolute necessity to its economical working. 



The Instructor. 



The Instructor is usually the head teacher or a member 

 of the school staff, but there are instances where a practical 

 gardener is employed. As a rule, the trained teacher who 

 has a fair knowledge of the subject is the most successful 

 instructor." 



FIELD AND GARDEN WEEDS. 



The study of weeds is a study in the struggle for exist- 

 ence. Cultivation may be viewed as an interference on the 

 part of man with the balance of nature. He attempts to 

 favour particular plants which if left to maintain them- 

 selves would in most cases be ousted from the field in a 

 short time. The wild plants which are continually seeking 

 hold in the soil prepared by man for the growth of his 

 crops he terms weeds. 



First of all let us note a few typical weeds, occurring in 

 gardens or in the fields. 



Shepherd's Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris}. Common by 

 roadsides, garden ground, fields, etc. Flowers throughout 

 most of the year. An erect annual, with small white flowers 

 in a raceme ; sepals 4, petals 4, stamens 4 long and 2 short. 

 Fruit a triangular " pod " (silicula). Rosette of simple 

 leaves, deeply cleft (pinnatifid) at base, stem leaves sessile, 

 toothed, arrow-shaped. Order: Cruciferae. 



Chickweed (Stellaria media). This is the commonest of 

 the various " chick weeds." It also flowers throughout 

 most of the year. A plant of rapid growth, spreading fast, 

 and seeding abundantly. May be distinguished by the 



