THE GARDEN 



Garden work is primarily aimed at (a) the formation of a life-habit of 

 productivity, (b) the acquisition of skill in garden activities, with the 

 attendant joy in such work. The desired skills that may readily be achieved 

 in elementary-school work stated approximately in the order of their 

 difficulty are as follows: Raising annuals from seeds planted in the open; 

 raising them from seeds planted indoors, then transplanting to the open; 

 raising perennials from seeds and transplanting to permanent positions; 

 raising flowers from bulbs, such as paper-white narcissus, jonquils, daffodils, 

 tulips, hyacinths, amaryllis, planting these bulbs in pots indoors and in beds 

 outdoors; preparation of soil; cultivation; handling fertilizers; propaga- 

 tion by cuttings, layering; window gardening; raising tree seedlings and 

 grafting; pruning; making and handling the cold frame and hotbed; 

 planting the home grounds with reference to maximum production and 

 beauty of effect. 



Annuals. Obtain a catalogue of flower and vegetable seed from some 

 reliable dealer and with its aid plan a garden and draw to scale for kinder- 

 garten and first and second grades, selecting both flowers and vegetables 

 to be planted by each grade. The ones most easily handled are to be 

 planted by the kindergarten, more difficult ones by the first grade, and 

 still more difficult ones by the second grade all to be things that will 

 mature either before school is out in June or else in the fall and be ready to 

 harvest after September. The garden is to be a community garden to be 

 worked in common under the direction of the teacher instead of having 

 individual plots for the pupils. Space to be occupied 30 by 30 ft. Let the 

 class decide on the best plan and put it into operation, members of the 

 class doing the work. If space will not permit the entire garden, try work 

 for only one grade. It is supposed that the ground is fertilized and 

 spaded. Demonstrate the use of hoes and rake, use of stakes and line in 

 making straight rows, making the drills, putting in seed, covering and firm- 

 ing the earth afterward. List the seeds to be used, the depth at which 

 each kind is to be planted and the distance apart in the drills. 



Determine what varieties of tomato, cabbage, and asters are best for 

 your climate, then buy these seeds. Find out what is the proper time to 

 plant and then plant in pans indoors the seed of these plants. Transplant 

 some to individual pots for "pot-grown plants" and leave the others in the 

 pans to set out directly in the ground. What is the average date of the last 



116 



