passolt] the school GARDENS OF SAGINAW 53 



to this method of producing pictures than do mammals, many- 

 reptiles, and most fishes. However, there is a surprisingly large 

 list of creatures which may be so used, and when we meet with 

 them it is an advantage to resort to it, as an adjunct to our col- 

 lection of animal records. 



The School Gardens of Saginaw 



Kate M. Passolt 



The school gardens of Saginaw were commenced in 1903, when 

 the first one was established for the Longfellow School. Since 

 then the gardens have increased in numbers until now each school 

 on the East Side has one. The Federation of Women's clubs 

 early saw the value of this movem.ent and aided by supplying 

 seeds for several years, and have hired a director during the vaca- 

 tion m.onths for the last seven years. 



Up to the year 19 10 the gardens were cultivated on vacant lots 

 which were either rented by the Board of Education, or whose 

 use was donated by friends. Upon these lots no permanent im- 

 provements could be made. The garden sites were often changed 

 and were becoming harder to secure, when our friend, the Hon. 

 W. R. Burt, became interested. He purchased and presented 

 to the Board of Education gardens near or adjacent to each of the 

 schools, ranging in size from 65 x 140 feet to 117 x 240 feet. In 

 addition Mr. Burt also caused shrubbery to be planted and had 

 substantial fences erected around the gardens. In order to pos- 

 sess aU necessary facilities, tool houses were erected at Mr. Burt's 

 expenes, at six of the gardens, by the wood working classes of the 

 Eleventh Grade. The permanent outlay for the gardens has been 

 in the neighborhood of $10,000. 



Gardening is a practical application of Nature Study which we 

 have tried to teach. The aims in our garden work are three. 

 First, to create in pupils a respect for the dignity of labor; second, 

 to arouse within them the love for out door life; and thirdly, to 

 give a knowledge of how to cultivate the common garden vege- 

 tables and flowers. 



It was soon discovered that to secure efficiency in this work 

 there must be a definite plan. A course of study in gardening 



