228 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



not only helped to maintain the gardens but the fact that the gardens 

 were worthy of a prize given by our Society has given an impetus 

 to the movement. The people see their value and are willing to 

 help. Surely the Massachusetts Horticultural Society has done 

 more than any other organization to introduce and encourage school 

 gardening. It is to be hoped that nothing may interfere with its 

 continuing the good work. 



At the summer school of the Massachusetts Agricultural College, 

 Amherst, where school gardening was made of the first importance, 

 a large number of teachers from this state, as well as from outside, 

 learned a great deal of school gardening and became most enthu- 

 siastic over the movement. This summer school will no doubt 

 do much to stimulate teachers to take up school garden work 

 and we may look for abundant returns. We are really most fortu- 

 nate in having a progressive institution of this sort in our state and 

 can properly feel that we had no little part in bringing about this 

 first summer school. Step by step the movement has been fol- 

 lowed and we have been in close touch with Professor Waugh who 

 more than any other person successfully carried out the summer 

 school of 1907. 



With this summer school at Amherst, the increased interest in 

 school gardens among our school superintendents, and with more 

 definite work at the normal schools, we can feel that it is only a 

 question of time when our teachers will be properly equipped for 

 school garden work. It may be interesting to note here that Smith, 

 Mt. Holvoke, and Wellesley Colleges all have courses in gardening 

 which provide a proper foundation for school garden work. At 

 Wellesley a superb new equipment has been provided for garden 

 work. School gardening is but a form of nature study and indus- 

 trial education for our schools. Let us hope that the work will be 

 carried on carefully and thoughtfully. 



The season of 1907 was hard on children's gardens. The late 

 spring followed by the dry summer made it most discouraging, and 

 although the results in the early part of the summer did not seem 

 at all promising our exhibit in September was even superior to last 

 year's excellent show. Your committee has continued the policy of 

 visiting gardens and discussing the work with the teachers and the 

 children, and have found these visits as inspiring as in other .seasons. 



