SCHOOL GARDEN REPORTS. 239 



the children take entire charge, buying tlieir own seed — the penny 

 packages being obtained. 



One half of each garden is given to vegetables and the other half to 

 flowers. The children are allowed as much choice as possible in the selec- 

 tion of flower seeds to be planted. This year for vegetables, tomatoes, 

 cauliflower, radishes, lettuce, and beets were selected. For flowers, each 

 child had a choice between marigolds or zinnias, asters or coreopsis, pansies 

 or California poppies, pinks or snapdragon, and lobelia or candj'tuft. 



Each child had a row of tomato plants, one of cauliflower, two rows of 

 lettuce, and two of radish; the lettuce and radish were planted for succes- 

 sion about a week apart. After the gathering of the lettuce and radish, 

 beets were planted in their stead to teach the children the continuous use 

 of the ground. 



In the other half of the garden each one had two rows of zinnias or 

 marigolds, two rows of asters or coreopsis, while the California poppies and 

 pansies were sown broadcast. The lobelia or candytuft was used as a 

 border on three sides of the section in which the pinks or snapdragon were 

 sown. 



Each child has whatever his garden produces, either to sell, cany home, 

 or give away. Little of the produce is sold, most of the children preferring 

 to take theirs home to show or give away. 



The pupils are taught the proper arrangement of the flowers in vases 

 and then they pick and arrange them for the schoolrooms. Whenever a 

 member of the school or friend is ill they gather flowers and the bouquet 

 is sent from the school. Many bmiches of radishes are sent from the gar- 

 den each spring. One cliild asked permission this fall to pot some pansies 

 from her garden to cany to a schoolmate who was ill. 



The garden work is con-elated with the other studies. This year in 

 Manual Training the boys made the stakes for measuring, and later bought 

 the materials and made the hoops to support the tomato plants. Language 

 Spelling, Drawing and Science are also closely allied to the outdoor work. 

 The pupils watch for hannful insects and much interest was taken in a 

 few toads which were found in the gardens. A cutworm was allowed to 

 develop into a moth in the schoolroom, so that the children might recog- 

 nize this pest in every stage. 



The greatest difficulty is in the care of the gardens during the sunnner 

 vacation. No one but the owiiers are allowed to work in them and when 

 they are to be away they try to find someone who will care for their 

 garden during their absence in return for the produce. Considering 

 everything, this is quite successful. 



The majority of the pupils who have gardens at school also have them at 

 home, using there the knowledge gained of soils, insects, depths for plant- 

 ing, transplanting, etc., thus appljing at home what they have practiced 

 at school. 



