passolt] the school GARDENS OF SAGINAW 55 



Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Grades^— Same as preceeding grades 

 with these additions: Experiments with different soils, trans- 

 planting. A few specimen plants are allowed to seed for studying 

 in the fall. The fibre is taken off the fibre plants. Flour, etc., 

 is made from the grains when harvested. 



The manual training department correlates as much as possible 

 with the garden work and has made plant labels, which are sten- 

 ciled in the drawing classes, dibbers for transplanting, and cultivat- 

 ing sticks. Paper boxes are also made for transplanting from the 

 hot bed. 



School gardening begins around the first of May and employs 

 about one hour of school time a week during May and June. In 

 some schools all students participate, while in others, one, two 

 or three grades take part. Each child is given a separate plot, 

 averaging in size — four feet by five feet. A plot is reserved for 

 experimental planting. The older pupils draw the plan of the 

 garden to scale and then lay it out with tape line, cord, and stakes. 

 Paths are made before general planting is begun by the boys above 

 the third grade. Seeds requiring an early start are planted in a 

 hot bed on the school garden in season to be available at planting 

 time. Each school has a supply of hoes, rakes, spades, and culti- 

 vators. These are usually supplemented by tools from the 

 homes if more than one grade is to work in the garden at once. 



During the summer, children come to the garden early in the 

 morning to cultivate and harvest upon dates set. They are under 

 the direction of a supervisor who carries on the work begun in 

 May. The pupils are allowed the fruits of their labors. Some 

 sell the vegetables while others supply the home table. 



The children are very generous and give of their plenty to 

 worthy poor and charitable institutions. The Sweet School sent 

 over five hundred bouquets to the hospitals. In the fall some of 

 the vegetables are sold. The children take the responsibility 

 of preparing and marketing and sell only on merit and at market 

 prices* The largest garden has a credit of $53 from the sale of 

 cauliflower, cabbage, beets, carrots, parsnips, tomatoes, salsify 

 and peppers. 



The proceeds have been used to help buy play apparatus, 

 pictures, picture machines, Victors, casts, etc. 



This fall an exhibit of the results of the city garden work was 

 made at the Saginaw Rural School Fair. Practically everything 



