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Editorial 



WAR AND THE SCHOOL GARDEN 



Late in December a seedsman sent a large stock of bulbs left 

 on his hands from the fall sale to one of the schools in Washington — 

 too late for outdoor planting. Feeling that some use should be 

 made of them, classes of children were commandeered to plant 

 them for indoor blooming. While the children planted the 

 teacher talked of the beauty wrapped in the bulbs and the pleasure 

 they were preparing for later days. "But I should like it so much 

 better" said a boy, "if I were working for the soldiers." 



War has its effect 'on every activity. The school garden this 

 season should take on the nature of the war garden. A garden 

 for food production to assist the great army at home is strictly 

 "working for the soldiers." Fewer bulbs were for sale last fall 

 and the number of purchasers greatly reduced. Tulip and 

 hyacinth borders, in consequence will be missed in many school 

 gardens. Beds of annuals will occupy less space. To a degree 

 this is correct teaching, for children should realize that every 

 penny spent unnecessarily is an aid to the enemy; every penny 

 saved is an aid to liberty and that all labor should directly lead 

 toward winning the cause for which we have enlisted. However, 

 with all the vacant lots at schools' disposal it is both extreme 

 and unnecessary to change a lawn into a potato patch or to destroy 

 the perennial garden — the garden of old friends, that has taken 

 so long to become established — in order to raise a few additional 

 cabbages. 



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