SCHOOL GARDEN REPORTS. 213 



ALFRED BOISEAU, AYER, MASS. 



Second Prize, 1906. (Boys.) 



My garden is in a little valley back of the house. Half of it slopes west, 

 and the other side to the east. The western side is somewhat sandy. 



I spaded up the land to the depth of nine inches and fertilized the soil 

 with phosphate because the land was rather poor. My required seeds 

 were radish, squash, peas, and nasturtium, but I planted others which 

 were beets, potato, and tomato. I planted the peas and beets two inches 

 deep and laid the seeds two inches apart. I planted the radish and carrot 

 in a similar manner. Put the squash seeds in hills six feet apart and put 

 four seeds in a hill. It may be interesting to know that I put six inches 

 of loam over the ashes where I planted the squash seeds. 



I planted the tomato in hill also. I dug holes six inches deep and put 

 in them the plants which I had bought. In planting potato you have to 

 cut a piece with the eye in it which I planted in rows. I raised both 

 White and Green Mountain varieties. I planted the nasturtium seed 

 about one inch apart and when they grew up and blossomed they were 

 all colors. When they began to grow I watered them every night at 

 sundown until they were able to grow themselves. 



I pulled up the weeds once or twice a week. I had vegetables for the 

 family during the greater part of the summer. Next year I intend to 

 plant the seeds early enough for the June exhibition in Boston. I got 

 the first prize for the best general collection among the second year boys 

 in Ayer. For several years we have had an exhibition of children's garden 

 products about the middle of September. This year we were glad to have 

 Mr. Jenks visit our exhibition as well as our gardens. 



Yours truly, 



Alfred Boiseau. 

 Ayer, Mass. 



Oct. 29, 1906. 



GLADYS LUCAS, READING, MASS. 



First Prize, 1906. (Girls.) 



My garden is 8 feet by 3 feet. The soil was very poor but papa has 

 made it in very good condition by manuring it. I could not wait for papa 

 to spade it so I spaded it myself, April 17, which is a back-aching job; 

 the next morning I was lame and sore all over. April 19 trimmed the 

 edge of my garden and planted my verbenas, marigolds, and pansies in a 

 box. I kept them on the kitchen table until they all were up, then I put 

 them on the backdoor steps. They were there only three or four days 

 when my brother fell down the steps, boxes and all. I saved a number 



