miller] school gardening IN THE SOUTH 245 



very hardy early spring vegetables and flowers; keeping the 

 unoccupied soil, if any, in condition to receive the benefit of 

 weathering agencies; preparing and seeding lawns, and trans- 

 planting and pruning shrubbery. The indoor work consists in 

 caring for window plants, testing the vitality of seed for spring 

 planting, experimenting with seeds to determine the depth at 

 which they should be planted and with fertilizers to ascertain the 

 needs of the garden soil to feed properly the different kinds of 

 crops. Thus, it is evident that there is abundant work to do 

 if the school interest is kept up, and that it must be done if the 

 work of the succeeding period is to be successful. 



Particular Suggestions. 

 It is manifestly impossible in a paper of this character to pre- 

 scribe methods of practice in outdoor gardening in the winter for 

 the entire Southern States. The kinds of plants to be grown, the 

 time of planting, the particular varieties, will vary with the cli- 

 mate, the soil, the needs, and the practice of each particular 

 section. It is sufficient to say, however, that there is no place 

 in the Southern States where some outdoor gardening may not be 

 done in winter. During the fall months after the vacation crops 

 have been removed and the ground thoroughly prepared and 

 fertilized attention may be given to the setting of violets and narcis- 

 sus bulbs, and to the planting of fall onions, turnips, winter 

 radishes, spinach, lettuce, and endive. In some sections it will 

 be safe to sow cabbage seed in open garden for early spring sets. 

 Sweet peas may also be sown in deep drill. (Fall planted sweet 

 peas will bloom at least a :nionth earlier than spring planted). 

 Plats of small grain, crimson clover, vetch, etc., may be planted 

 if land is plentiful or if it is not desirable to risk some of the other 

 plants. Keep this constantly in :niind, that to be an educative 

 factor there must be work going on in the garden all the time. 

 The physical changes taking place in unoccupied soil due to 

 weathering agencies are important and need to be brought to 

 the attention of the x^upils as forcibly as possible. Such observa- 

 tions properly directed provide valuable instruction. Even 

 with those plants which arc too delicate to stand the coldest 

 Southern winter weather outdoor work may be done by using 

 hotbeds and cold frames. These can be made by the students 

 and at very little expense. Their value in affording opportunity 



