REPORT OF COMMITTEE OX SCHOOL GARDENS, ETC. 301 



The result has been more than gratifying, and while the native 

 plants have not been neglected, as will be seen from the subjoined 

 list, the cultivated flowers were the means of enabling some of 

 the children during the summer vacation season to contribute 

 something toward the pleasure of invalids in the hospitals by 

 sending flowers from the Swan School garden to the Mission twice 

 a week. Thus they not only received pleasure themselves and 

 gave pleasure to others, but were unconsciousl}' instructed in 

 humane principles. 



The portion of the school grounds set apart £or the garden 

 work comprises approximately between 2,500 and 3,000 square 

 feet, and the different beds laid out were treated differently, 

 according to the character of the plants the}^ were to receive. 



The general treatment was as follows : — The soil was first well 

 broken up and dug over to the depth of nearly two feet, and some 

 twenty or more loads of rich loam and two good loads of old 

 manure, rotted to pulverization, were mixed in thoroughly. The 

 beds to be devoted to the ferns were not made so rich, because 

 the intent was to imitate nature as far as possible. 



Nearlj^ all the planting except that of the trees was done by 

 the children under the guidance of their teachers. 



In addition to the native flowering plants 150 Gladiolus bulbs, 

 100 Tuberose bulbs, 125 Pansy plants, 25 Cannas, and 50 plants 

 each of Sweet Williams, hardy Carnations, Verbenas, and Daisies 

 were planted. -Cryptogamous plants were represented by 28 

 species of hardy native ferns. 



100 feet of garden hose with a reel, 6 watering pots, 3 sets of 

 garden tools, including a spade, and 2 extra large tubs for water- 

 plants, were furnished, all of which will come into use next season. 



Since November 1 , there have been planted for spring blooming 

 over 200 bulbs including hyacinths, narcissi, and tulips in variety, 

 a good part of them having been furnished by the Garden Com- 

 mittee, a large number of scilla bulbs, several fresh crowns of 

 the ostrich fern, mossy clumps of Polypodium vulgare, "Woodsia 

 llvensis, Phegopteris hexagonoptera, and Iris Kaempferi. 



The garden has also been put in order for the winter by having 

 the shrubby plants staked and the various beds raked over and 

 covered for protection. 



The expenses of the garden have been met from appropriations 

 hy the School Garden Committee, and generous contributions 

 from Gen. Samuel C. Lawrence, Mayor Baxter E. Perry, J. Henry 



