SCHOOL AND HOME GROUNDS. 353 



child. As a minimum this should be 4x lofeet, 

 with a path a foot and a half or two feet wide 

 on each side. The measuring should be done 

 by the children, but it will be necessary to 

 measure very accurately, in order that each 

 child may get his rightful share of the ground 

 and that this drill maybe practical. Care should 

 be taken not to tramp the ground any more than 

 is absolutely necessary. As the plats are laid 

 off, they should be marked with a stake at each 

 corner. The paths should be determined as 

 soon as possible, and the passing over the 

 groimds restricted to these. All paths should 

 be kept mulcJicd with grass or garden debris. 



Each child should have full charge of his in- 

 dividual garden throughout the term, and be 

 responsible for the general condition of the 

 garden and path. 



Great care must be exercised by the teacher, lest making the 

 garden should become the sole aim instead of the develop- 

 ment of tJie child. It must not be forgotten that the latter is 

 the paramount purpose of all school work. Hence, the 

 teacher should first require careful thought concerning 

 the prospective garden; then the individual tastes of the 

 children should be consulted in selecting and arranging 

 their own plantings. 



Now, having decided how and where each 

 variety is to be planted, the ground should be 

 well pulverized and marked off by the children. 



