INTRODUCTION XV 



gardens, and in systematically planting 

 the seed, gives the child the practical 

 mathematics which he so much needs. 

 Much language work can be given in 

 connection with it; in fact, it can be 

 correlated with nearly all the other 

 branches, as it furnishes material for 

 writing, painting, drawing and geography. 

 Even business can be taught, as is done 

 at the school gardens at the State Normal 

 School at Hyannis, Mass., where the 

 products of the gardens are sold, the 

 money is taken to the bank and deposited, 

 and the children learn the method of 

 depositing money and drawing checks. 

 The systematic care of tools and the 

 systematic order of doing things, and the 

 habits of close observation and of reporting 

 observations, acquired by the child, will 

 form a trait which will be invaluable to 

 him throughout life. Where gardens have 

 been conducted for several years, long 

 enough to make practical tests, it is 

 found that the boys having the garden 

 work are thirty per cent, more rapid in 



