208 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



should be able to recognize at sight these obnoxious plants; so we devoted 

 some time each day in making the acquaintance of pigweed, ragweed, 

 purslane, and others; then their method of propagation was noted and 

 the best method of extermination determined upon. It seemed difficult 

 for some of the little nature students to comprehend why it was necessary 

 to devote so much care and attention in order to secure the most successful 

 crops of zinnias or ageratum, while that daintiest and most beautiful of 

 flower-clusters. Queen Anne's lace (wild parsley) matured without care 

 or attention and was never allowed the companionship of our garden 

 plants. 



In May the boys brought from the woods some ferns Mhich were new 

 to our wild garden as the hay-scented fern (Dicksonia pundilobula) , the 

 lady fern (Asplenium Filix-foemina), and the silvery spleenwort {As- 

 plenium thelypter aides), besides adding to the species already possessed. 



The middle of August it was decided to hold an exhibition of garden 

 products, showing results of amateur work. The little people had, with 

 few exceptions, been in attendance regularly every Tuesday morning 

 during vacation days to care for their possessions and carry home their 

 baskets of flowers and vegetables, and so, that the friends and parents 

 might have a better knowledge of what these young cultivators of the 

 soil were accomplishing, tables were placed in the shade of the trees bor- 

 dering the garden and each boy and girl prepared and arranged a display 

 of whatever his garden contained: corn, beets, turnips, carrots, beans, 

 tomatoes were to be seen, as well as a wealth of zinnias, cosmos, ver- 

 benas, candji:uft, alyssum, ageratum, nasturtiums, calendulas, phlox, etc., 

 Although the gardens receive many visitors on week-days and especially 

 on Sundays through the summer months, yet a large number of interested 

 ones came to the exhibition and commended the work of our young folks. 



We are often asked, "Of what use is this knowledge of gardening to our 

 boys and girls? " The public schools of today are a power in the countiy 

 and the average boy or girl who, during his school life, has had 'two years 

 of systematic work in the school garden has acquired a spirit of thrift 

 and economy, a love of neatness and beauty in surroundings which sooner 

 or later extends to the home. It is the home-loving boys and girls, the 

 boys and girls with an interest in home environment who make the best 

 neighbors, the best citizens, and the best communities. "To add to the 

 resources of one's life — -Think how much that means!" says John Bur- 

 roughs. 



So Godspeed to the school gardens of America and the little people 

 with the spade and hoe! 



