298 NATURE STUDY REVIEW [8 :8— Nov., 1912 



seen visions of good in the work but who have not studied the 

 way to its reaHzation. Some see their error early and readjust 

 the view point and hne of attack. Others count their failure an 

 evidence of effort in a weak cause, and retreat from the sunrise 

 of a possible victory. 



This grievous mistake most often made, is that of starting a 

 school garden under conditions unfavorable to successful results. 

 The school garden started just to have a school garden is an 

 unnecessary burden, a pedagogical blunder, a foredoomed failure 

 and a source of unfair criticism of a good cause. 



No school garden should be started unless it has specific 

 function or is to meet a particular need. The need of a school 

 garden varies with the kind and grade of school, the course of 

 study, the community interests arid the conditions under which 

 it may be or must be maintained. 



Some of these needs are : 



1. The need of an experimental plot where pupils may try 

 out experiments which are concerned in their school or home 

 work. 



2. To beautifying the school grounds. 



3. To provide outdoor activity of the quality needed by 

 pupils. 



4. To afford a better at-hand study of processes or products 

 than can be otherwise secured. 



5. To furnish products needed by the school, by the pupils, or 

 by their homes. 



With a good purpose in view there are yet reasons why a 

 teacher may be justified in not conducting a school garden. 

 Among these reasons the following sometimes apply : 



1. The growing season is too short or otherwise unfavorable 

 to securing results during the season when school is in session. 



2. The possible location of a garden plot, or the condition 

 of soil may be so unfavorable as to prevent even a reasonable 

 degree of success. 



3. The other duties of the teacher may be such that suf- 

 ficient time and close attention cannot be given. A school garden 

 needs a careful, constant, faithful, thinking, planning, executing 

 and persevering overseer during its entire period of beginning, 

 growing and harvest. It is easy to create interest enough to start 

 a school garden. To keep this interest, and to get satisfac-' 

 tory results require a far greater degree of talent and of applied 

 art. 



