CERTAIN USES OF THE SCHOOL GARDEN. 87 



Miss Withington replied that it was very noticeable that Italian 

 children were very fond of this work and also the colored children 

 were good workers. In her experience she had found an equally 

 hearty response on the part of American children. In fact, nearly 

 all children are interested in gardening and take pleasure in it. 



INIr. Carpenter remarked that the school officials could not do 

 a better thing for the practical instruction of children than to put 

 some money into seeds and tools. It was just as legitimate an 

 expense as to put money into books. 



William N. Craig said that in North Easton they did not have 

 a school garden but there were two Granges that were interested 

 in the work and offered prizes to young gardeners for the best kept 

 flower and vegetable gardens. In this way they hoped to reach 

 the children of the schools. He said that instruction by practical 

 gardeners was needed to produce best results. 



A young lady remarked that the school garden exerted a civilizing 

 effect upon the children. They were not so rough in their play; 

 and she had observed that when a child had taken home a plant to 

 put in the window the window very soon became clean and there 

 was a general improvement in the surroundings. 



Mrs. Wing suggested that technical knowledge was not every- 

 thing to be desired. It was not necessary to know so much about 

 the soils. Of greater value in the work of the school garden was 

 the kindly interest in the child life, stimulating it to find pleasure 

 in these things. 



